{"id":46524,"date":"2022-03-24T18:20:22","date_gmt":"2022-03-25T01:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=46524"},"modified":"2022-03-24T18:20:22","modified_gmt":"2022-03-25T01:20:22","slug":"covid-vaccines-are-safe-and-effective-for-5-11-year-olds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=46524","title":{"rendered":"Covid Vaccines are Safe and Effective for 5-11 Year Olds"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_61 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_1\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_61\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_63 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_1\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_63\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><a class=\"td-modal-image\" href=\"https:\/\/secureservercdn.net\/50.62.88.172\/99t.7da.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/san-briefing.jpg?time=1648162822\" data-caption=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"entry-thumb td-animation-stack-type0-2\" title=\"san briefing\" src=\"https:\/\/secureservercdn.net\/50.62.88.172\/99t.7da.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/san-briefing-696x464.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secureservercdn.net\/50.62.88.172\/99t.7da.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/san-briefing-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/secureservercdn.net\/50.62.88.172\/99t.7da.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/san-briefing-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/secureservercdn.net\/50.62.88.172\/99t.7da.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/san-briefing-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/secureservercdn.net\/50.62.88.172\/99t.7da.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/san-briefing-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/secureservercdn.net\/50.62.88.172\/99t.7da.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/san-briefing-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/secureservercdn.net\/50.62.88.172\/99t.7da.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/san-briefing-1068x712.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/secureservercdn.net\/50.62.88.172\/99t.7da.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/san-briefing.jpg 1200w\" alt=\"\" width=\"696\" height=\"464\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_post_share tdi_64 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_1\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_64\">\n<div id=\"tdi_64\" class=\"td-post-sharing tdb-block td-ps-bg td-ps-notext td-ps-rounded td-post-sharing-style3 \">\n<div class=\"td-post-sharing-visible\">\n<div class=\"td-social-sharing-button td-social-sharing-button-js td-social-handler td-social-share-text\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_post_views tdi_65 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_1 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_65\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_66 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_1 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_66\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span><a class=\"tdb-author-name\" href=\"https:\/\/ethnicmediaservices.org\/author\/sunita\/\">Sunita Sohrabji<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_67 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_1 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_67\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2022-03-24T03:39:00-07:00\">March 24, 2022<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_68 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_1 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_68\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p><em>(Above: California family practitioner Dr. Sameer Ohri of Corona, CA spoke during a March 15 briefing on the safety and effectiveness of Covid vaccines for children ages 5-11)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The Covid vaccines are absolutely safe and effective in preventing infections in 5-11 year-old children, said California family practitioner Dr. Sameer Ohri during a March 15 briefing organized by the non-profit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.southasiannetwork.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">South Asian Network<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The briefing was held as part of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vaccinateall58.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vaccinate All 58<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/communication\/stop-the-spread.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stop the Spread COVID-19<\/a>\u00a0public awareness campaigns, and was simultaneously interpreted in Hindi, Urdu, and Bangla. Hina Ahmad, deputy director of SAN moderated the briefing, available via the organization\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/live\/?ref=watch_permalink&amp;v=903138223695332\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know there\u2019s a lot of misinformation going around, but comprehensive clinical trials have been done in about 4,500 children ages 5-11 which conclude that the Covid-19 vaccination is perfectly safe, and results in a strong antibody response in children who received the vaccine,\u201d said Ohri. He noted that there are mild side effects, such as fatigue, fever, and headaches, but the benefits of receiving the vaccination far outweigh the mild side effects.<\/p>\n<p>Children may experience pain in their arm, along with redness and swelling, which goes away in a few days. They may also experience tiredness, fatigue, muscle pain, fever, chills and nausea, which are very rare. However, these side effects are normal and should go away in a few days, said Ohri, advising parents to check with their pediatricians before using an over-the-counter pain reliever like aspirin for their newly vaccinated children.<\/p>\n<p>There have been rare cases of myocarditis as well as pericarditis \u2014 inflammations around the heart \u2014\u00a0in young males. \u201cThe patients rarely have to be hospitalized, and they get better within a few days. These rare short-term occurrences have very low risk, and those affected generally recover rapidly,\u201d said Ohri.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s very rare for children to require treatment, whereas a Covid-19 infection causes long-term side effects, including myocarditis, which are not treatable. And patients have to live a long time under the severe adverse effects of it if they survive, if it doesn\u2019t get worse. So, I highly encourage everyone to give the vaccine to their 5-11 year-olds, and of course, receiving them yourselves as well,\u201d said Ohri.<\/p>\n<p>In California, less than one-third of 5-11 year-olds are fully vaccinated. Vaccination rates vary widely by county for this age group, according to data from KidsData. In Kings County, fewer than 5 percent of K-6 grade children have been fully vaccinated.<\/p>\n<p>One of the bright spots in the state is Imperial County, a largely agricultural region: 58 percent of 5-11 year olds in the county have been fully vaccinated.<\/p>\n<p>Parents have expressed hesitancy about getting their younger children vaccinated, because of misinformation suggesting the vaccine affects reproductive organs and fertility rates, Ohri said. He addressed parental concerns noting there is no evidence that the vaccine causes reproductive organ failure or infertility.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe ingredients in the mRNA vaccine never enters the nucleus of the cell where our DNA is kept,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n<p>Answering questions about vaccine timing for children aged 5-11, Ohri said the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine should be administered 21 days after the first dose. Children in this age group are not yet eligible for boosters, nor do they need one, said Ohri.<\/p>\n<p>The physician was asked about new guidelines on masks in school: as of March 12, the state lifted its mask mandate, allowing children to attend school without masks. Even children below age 5, who are not yet eligible to get vaccinated, can attend preschool and daycare settings without masks.<\/p>\n<p>Ohri noted that masks are most effective when there is a high transmission rate. In California, transmission rates have plummeted since their peak with the Omicron variant. The state continues to strongly recommend that children wear masks in school. And individual school districts can set their own guidelines on masking.<\/p>\n<p>Ohri advised the South Asian American community to find trusted voices they can turn to for reliable information on Covid-19. \u201cMisinformation about Covid-19, its variants and the vaccine is costing people their health, and in too many cases, their lives,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BySunita Sohrabji March 24, 2022 (Above:&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","category-opinion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=46524"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46524\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46525,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46524\/revisions\/46525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}