Vaccine approved for children in the US, is it safe?
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(CNN Spanish) -
Following the green light from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to apply the covid-19 vaccine to children between 5 and 11 years old, pharmacies CVS, Walgreens and Walmart open appointments to apply the vaccine starting this Saturday.
With the way clear for inoculation to begin immediately in this age group in the United States, the youngest so far to receive the drug, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart pharmacies have announced the opening of appointments.
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"Our immunizers have been preparing for this important role and are ready to help answer parents' questions, guide them and their children through the process, and administer vaccines safely, with kindness and caring," said Troyen. A. Brennan, CVS Health executive vice president and chief medical officer, in a statement.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed Pfizer's vaccine for this younger age group, stating that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risk for children.
In the informational documents it submitted to the FDA, Pfizer says its clinical trial showed that the vaccine provides 90.7% protection against symptomatic disease among this age group, with one-third of the dose that 12 people receive. years or more.
The company hopes the smaller dose will reduce potential side effects.
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According to a report released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics, children now make up a disproportionate number of new COVID-19 cases, accounting for a quarter of all new cases last week.
CVS, Walgreens and Walmart: schedule your appointment
With authorization to administer a COVID-19 vaccine for young children, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart pharmacies announced their plans to offer the first series of doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children 5 to 11 years of age to starting this weekend.
"The Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine is one-third the adult dose and will be available at nearly 1,700 CVS Pharmacy locations in 46 states, Puerto Rico and Washington," CVS said.
Covid-19 cases in American countries have decreased for the eighth consecutive week, according to PAHO
Appointments at CVS will be available beginning Sunday, November 7 and can be scheduled through their website or through the pharmacy's mobile app.
For its part, Walgreens said in a statement that the first shipments of vaccines would be arriving at pharmacies later this week so "parents or legal guardians can schedule appointments starting today."
Appointments at Walgreens can be scheduled through their website, through the Walgreens mobile app or by calling 1-800-Walgreens and will be available beginning Saturday, November 6.
Additionally, in order to accommodate school schedules, additional appointments will be offered on Saturdays through November 20.
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Walmart and Sam's Club pharmacies in the United States will also offer the vaccine to children ages 5 to 11 "starting late this week."
According to a press release, the supply of vaccines may be limited, so they recommend checking availability before heading to the pharmacy.
Appointments can be scheduled through the Walmart and Sam's Club websites.
Parents must accompany minors, and pharmacies recommend minors wear clothing that allows them easy access to their arms.
As with adults who have received the COVID-19 vaccine, children will have to wait in the pharmacy area for approximately 15 minutes after receiving the COVID-19 injection to ensure they do not have an allergic reaction. .
Anyone can get the vaccine at no cost, even people who are uninsured or underinsured.
CNN's Jen Christensen contributed to this report.
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