Durham Magazine Sept 2021

WHAT TO KNOW:

COVID-19 VACCINES AND CHILDREN VACCINATION NOT YET AN OPTION FOR CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 12

I N PA RT N E R S H I P W I T H

D

urham County Department of Public Health Studies are ongoing to determine the safety of vaccinations Director Rodney Jenkins says it’s clear that getting for younger children. “What we do know,” says postdoctoral young children vaccinated scholar Christine N. Daniels of the will be a critical step toward ending Duke University Human Vaccine the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are Institute, “is the safety profile of seeing higher case rates among the 4 billion vaccine doses that have children than ever before here in been administered to people [12 Durham, and we know this is largely and older] globally.” So far, Christine because this group cannot get says, COVID-19 vaccines have shown The Durham County Department of Public Health vaccinated yet.” remarkable efficacy and safety. offers free COVID-19 vaccines to anyone Dr. Sarah Armstrong, interim The Centers for Disease Control older than 12 at its clinic at 414 E. Main St. division chief of primary care and Prevention reports that vaccines every Monday through Wednesday, with community vaccination events offered on pediatrics at Duke University for children 12 and older are safe Thursdays and Fridays in various locations. School of Medicine’s Department and effective and that “the known Children ages 12 to 15 must have a parent or guardian present in order to receive a of Pediatrics, says that “there and potential benefits of COVID-19 shot. Walk in or schedule an appointment has been a misperception that vaccination outweigh the known and online or by calling 919-560-9217. [COVID-19] doesn’t affect children potential risks.” Sarah says that getting GoDurham offers free rides to and from … that is simply not true.” She says approved age groups vaccinated vaccination sites for anyone with an appointment. Call 919-560-1552 at least that children are susceptible to the will “dramatically reduce their risk 24 hours in advance to schedule a ride to coronavirus at lower rates than of getting [COVID-19], and will bring and from the site. Visit godurhamtransit.org/ covid-19-updates for more information. adults, but children experience down to almost zero the risk of getting the illness, from mild symptoms to the severe form of [COVID-19] … so United Way of the Greater Triangle’s more severe disease or even death. parents can feel good about their kids program RIDE UNITED NC offers free rides via a partnership with Lyft, BlueCross Vaccines haven’t yet been not getting sick from COVID.” BlueShield of North Carolina and the approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Christine explains that, while NC Department of Transportation for low-income residents with vaccination Administration for use in anyone some more severe side effects like appointments. Call 1-844-771-RIDE or visit younger than the age of 12. The anaphylaxis or myocarditis have unitedwaytriangle.org/rideunitednc for more information. Pfizer vaccine is currently the only been recorded, those occurrences option approved for the 12-17 age are extremely rare – there were six group, which makes up 6% of Durham’s population. County reported cases out of 6.8 million Johnson & Johnson doses health department data shows that children ages 17 and administered, she says – while “the side effects associated younger account for 3,736 out of the 27,065 COVID-19 cases with COVID-19 are far less rare; pneumonia, organ failure, reported in Durham since last March (as of press time). long COVID, hospitalization and death.”

GET YOUR SHOT

F I N D A C O M P L E T E L I S T O F H E A LT H Y D U R H A M P A R T N E R S AT

HEALTHYDURHAM2020.ORG/PARTNERS

 @HEALTHYDURHAM2020

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