Long Island doctors have joined a national movement to urge the federal government to prioritize a COVID-19 vaccine for children, as clinical trials for adults are in phase three.
Dr. Sharon Nachman heads pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. She said a children’s vaccine is critical in defeating COVID-19.
“We should know, what’s the right dose. Is there anything interesting or different about their immune response to the vaccine, and also, is it going to cause any intersections with the other vaccines that we give children. We need to have all of that information in a quick fashion if we want to protect all of our population,” Nachman said.
Children with coronavirus are more likely to be asymptomatic, and less likely to be hospitalized, but they are able to transmit the disease to vulnerable adults.
Nachman said delaying a children’s vaccine will also take a toll on children’s mental health, if they have to continue to wear masks and socially isolate.