Presenting the New Guidance on Children’s Vaccine from Florida
Based on currently available data, healthy children aged 5 to 17 may not benefit from receiving the currently available COVID-19 vaccine.
This week Florida became the first state to actually analyze the utility of children’s vaccination. In light of the fact that children are at virtually no serious risk of COVID and in light of the fact that the Pfizer vaccine doesn’t seem to provide much protection (if any), the Surgeon General of Florida came to the conclusion that kids probably shouldn’t be vaccinated. They aren’t the first one to make this recommendation as we have seen many European countries take a similar stance.
These experts haven’t said there were huge risks associated with the vaccines. But the equation for kids basically means we shouldn’t tolerate any risks. And as we have seen so far, there are risks involved. At least more than what would be expected with every other shot we give kids today.
So anyhow, here is the official Florida guidance so you can read it for yourself. The media hasn’t been covering this story as much as they should as it likely puts a wrench in the tires of the “vaccination at all costs” narrative.
Florida recognizes that parents should always be empowered to make the best health decisions for their children. It is essential that health care practitioners review all data to evaluate risks and benefits unique to each patient when determining what health care services to provide, including the administration of COVID-19 vaccines. These decisions should be made on an individual basis. As the risks of administering a COVID-19 vaccine to healthy children may outweigh the benefits, the Florida Department of Health has issued the following guidance:
Based on currently available data, healthy children aged 5 to 17 may not benefit from receiving the currently available COVID-19 vaccine. The Department recommends that children with underlying conditions are the best candidates for the COVID-19 vaccine.
At the present time, there are certain risks to consider that may outweigh benefits among healthy children with no underlying conditions:
• Limited risk of severe illness due to COVID-19
• High prevalence of existing immunity among children
• Absence of data informing benefit of COVID-19 vaccination among children with existing immunity.
• In clinical trials, higher than anticipated serious adverse events occurred among those receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Reduced COVID-19 vaccine efficacy among children 5-17
• Risk of myocarditis due to the COVID-19 vaccine
For children with underlying health conditions or comorbidities, COVID-19 vaccines should be considered in consultation with your health care practitioner. Parents are encouraged to discuss the risks and benefits with their children’s health care practitioner when evaluating whether their child should receive a COVID-19 vaccine, particularly for children with underlying health conditions or comorbidities.
In general, healthy children with no significant underlying health conditions under 16 years old are at little to no risk of severe illness complications from COVID-19. For adolescents 16 to 17 years of age, the risk of myocarditis due to the COVID-19 vaccines may outweigh the benefits.
Healthy Children Ages 5 to 11
In a clinical trial, there were no cases of severe illness among children ages 5 to 11 among any placebo recipients or COVID-19 vaccine recipients. A study conducted out of New York determined that COVID-19 vaccine efficacy declined 84%, from 68% to 12%, over a span of two months for children aged 5 to 11.
Healthy Children Ages 5 to 11
In a clinical trial, there were no cases of severe illness among children ages 5 to 11 among any placebo recipients or COVID-19 vaccine recipients. A study conducted out of New York determined that COVID-19 vaccine efficacy declined 84%, from 68% to 12%, over a span of two months for children aged 5 to 11.
Healthy Adolescents Ages 12 to 17
The same study determined that COVID-19 vaccine efficacy declined 40%, from 85% to 51%, over a span of two months for adolescents ages 12 to 17. There is also concern for the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis in children, especially among adolescent boys. One study found the highest rates of myocarditis among males ages 12 to 15, followed by adolescent males ages 16 to 17 years old.
Source: https://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2022/03/20220308-FDOH-covid19-vaccination-recommendations-children.pr.html