3 ms·

Given that safety has been proven in 6mo to <5yo, and the dose for the 3yo and 4yo is in question (hence testing 3rd dose), I see no reason why doses one and tw

Given that safety has been proven in 6mo to <5yo, and the dose for the 3yo and 4yo is in question (hence testing 3rd dose), I see no reason why doses one and two cannot proceed in these groups. Surely some exposure to the virus is better than none. At least give parents the option. My 3.7yo is the same weight as a median 5yo. My wife and I have had two doses of Pfizer and one Moderna booster. We would get my daughter vaccinated with one of those tomorrow if we were able to.

el_benhameen 5y ago
I very much agree with this. The FDA seems to have decided that there is zero urgency with regards to under-5s and that they will continue to be belatedly reactive like they have for every other question during the pandemic.
madcaptenor 5y ago
I had a similar thought to this (and my kid is the same age as yours) but apparently immune response isn't based on weight - see e.g. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/26/well/live/child-vaccine-dose-weight-age.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/26/well/live/child-vaccine-d... . It's not like giving them Tylenol. That being said, after hearing about 10- and 11-year-olds pretending to be 12 so that they could get vaccinated I did have a moment where I wondered if she could pass for 5.
- avidphantasm 5y ago
  Good point re. immune response not simply being a function of mass. However, the doses in the <5yo trial were lower. So let's roll with them for now and boost later. Sadly @el_benhameen may be correct in the FDA's complacency.
mherdeg 5y ago
Have you talked to a pediatrician about off-label vaccination? My understanding is that there are various barriers prohibiting this; this op-ed says there is a CDC vaccine provider agreement which forbids the practice - https://www.thehastingscenter.org/with-pediatric-hospitalizations-rising-reconsider-off-label-covid-vaccination-for-young-children/ https://www.thehastingscenter.org/with-pediatric-hospitaliza.... But I have no idea how often it's actually happening. The major downsides are that you'd be missing out on information about side effects from vaccination, and on possible clinical-trial data that might show a different, better, dosage in your kid's age range.

el_benhameen 5y ago

I very much agree with this. The FDA seems to have decided that there is zero urgency with regards to under-5s and that they will continue to be belatedly reactive like they have for every other question during the pandemic.

madcaptenor 5y ago

I had a similar thought to this (and my kid is the same age as yours) but apparently immune response isn't based on weight - see e.g. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/26/well/live/child-vaccine-dose-weight-age.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/26/well/live/child-vaccine-d... . It's not like giving them Tylenol. That being said, after hearing about 10- and 11-year-olds pretending to be 12 so that they could get vaccinated I did have a moment where I wondered if she could pass for 5.

avidphantasm 5y ago
Good point re. immune response not simply being a function of mass. However, the doses in the <5yo trial were lower. So let's roll with them for now and boost later. Sadly @el_benhameen may be correct in the FDA's complacency.

mherdeg 5y ago

Have you talked to a pediatrician about off-label vaccination? My understanding is that there are various barriers prohibiting this; this op-ed says there is a CDC vaccine provider agreement which forbids the practice - https://www.thehastingscenter.org/with-pediatric-hospitalizations-rising-reconsider-off-label-covid-vaccination-for-young-children/ https://www.thehastingscenter.org/with-pediatric-hospitaliza.... But I have no idea how often it's actually happening. The major downsides are that you'd be missing out on information about side effects from vaccination, and on possible clinical-trial data that might show a different, better, dosage in your kid's age range.