The Latest on COVID-19 Boosters and on Vaccines for Children

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Published December 14, 2021

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The availability of COVID-19 boosters and COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 are on the minds of many. However, with the science constantly evolving, it is hard to know where to turn for trustworthy information.

We recently asked two expert University at Buffalo researchers — UB Clinical and Translational Science Institute Director Timothy F. Murphy, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and CTSI Special Populations and Recruitment Core Director Teresa Quattrin, MD, UB Distinguished Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Research Integration, Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School — to discuss these topics, and outline what you need to know. In addition, you will find some links to helpful resources from trusted sources.

 

COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOTS

You have likely heard that if six months has passed since your last COVID vaccination shot, experts say it is time for a booster shot. However, you may have wondered why this is recommended. Timothy F. Murphy, MD, an infectious diseases physician scientist at UB, says the reason is simple.

“There is now evidence that some of the immunity that is induced by the two-shot regimen of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine and one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine is waning or decreasing, particularly in people who are elderly,” he explains. “Their immune systems are not as robust as younger people and that’s the group that received the vaccinations first.”

Therefore, Murphy says the highest priority people for getting the booster would be the elderly and also people with immunocompromising conditions. However, he says there is growing evidence that immunity (for getting the infection) drops off for all age groups over time. The Food and Drug Administration recently authorized boosters for all adults, and due to the newly discovered Omicron variant the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends the shots for all adults as soon as they are eligible.

“It is important to recognize that the vaccines work,” Murphy stresses. “The fact that we need boosters does not mean vaccines are failing. It means we are learning about vaccines. The disease has only been around for about two years. Remember, the vaccines have only been in use for about one year. So, we are learning about the disease and we are learning about the vaccines.”

Murphy notes that there are a number of vaccines for which three shots are needed — including hepatitis and meningitis.

“One of the questions people ask is, ‘Does this mean we’re going to need yearly boosters or yearly shots like we do for influenza? And the real answer is we do not know yet. What we do know is the vaccines are the key to ending this pandemic and being able to go back to normal. Receiving the vaccine is the best thing we can do right now.”

How to make a booster appointment:

To make your appointment, visit the Erie County Department of Health and Niagara County Department of Health websites.

Resources from sources you can trust:

Looking for more information on COVID boosters? Here are some recommended resources.

 

COVID-19 VACCINES FOR CHILDREN

Many parents are breathing a sigh of relief now that COVID vaccines are available for children between 5 and 11 years old. Yet there are parents who have some trepidation about the vaccines, as well.

UB physician scientist Teresa Quattrin, MD, believes the pandemic has been particularly hard on the 5-to-11-year-old age group. “As much as we have all suffered from the consequences of social isolation and distancing, the youth have suffered the most,” she says. “It is nearly impossible — even if the school is very diligent — to really enforce the masking to the needed degree, and the social distancing.”

In addition to the increased protection against COVID, Quattrin sees the vaccines as a key step toward more normalcy for children, and even greater safety for the adults in their lives.

“It is important for the socialization of children,” she says. “It also has broader repercussions, because they can be the ones who are carrying it to people at higher risk for complications, like their elderly grandparents.”

If you are unsure about the vaccine or concerned about its impact on your child, Quattrin says your best option is to talk with your pediatrician or healthcare provider. “Pediatricians know the child best and can answer questions, and can also establish if there is any concern about receiving the vaccine.”

Quattrin stresses that parents should feel comfortable, and make their decision with confidence: “While the pediatrician is the captain of the ship, parents are the ones who steer the ship.”

How to make a vaccine appointment for 5- to 11-year-olds:

To make an appointment for your child, ask your pediatrician’s office or visit the Erie County Department of Health and Niagara County Department of Health websites.

Resources from sources you can trust:

Looking for more information on vaccines for children? Here are some recommended resources.