NYT Article: Children: Just One Dose, for Now

Officials in Hong Kong as well as in Britain, Norway and other countries have recommended a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages 12 and older — providing partial protection from the virus, but without the potential harms occasionally observed after two doses. On Wednesday, Sweden and Denmark joined the ranks, announcing that adolescents should get only one jab of the Moderna vaccine.

Health officials in those countries are particularly worried about increasing data suggesting that myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, may be more common among adolescents and young adults after vaccination than had been thought.

...

The chance of getting severe Covid in a healthy 12- to 15-year-old is almost negligible,” Dr. Brown said. “Against that, you have to make sure that the vaccine that you’re giving is utterly safe.”

Some experts have argued that immunizing children would help to sever chains of transmission and contain the virus. But immunizing children to protect others — when there may be a risk to the recipient, however small — was indefensible, Dr. Brown said.

“You don’t vaccinate a 15-year-old to prevent them infecting other adults — that’s not morally, ethically the right thing to do,” he said.

BTW @wildgrass, since you asked, this is an issue I've changed my mind on based on being open to and consuming new information. I had my 16 yo get 2 doses in May. I had my 14 yo get 2 doses in June/July.

My 12 yo son got his first dose on July 19 (he turned 12 on Jul 15). I had every intention of having him get a second dose 3 weeks later. I hesitated when I started hearing whisperings about myocarditis in young boys, but I still figured I'd have him get his second dose. Based on the evidence that's come to light in the last several weeks, I have put his second dose on hold indefinitely. I imagine that a second dose after ~6 months (when the effectiveness of the Pfizer vax seems to wane) might still be a good idea. We'll see.

@sh76 said
[quote]Officials in Hong Kong as well as in Britain, Norway and other countries have recommended a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages 12 and older — providing partial protection from the virus, but without the potential harms occasionally observed after two doses. On Wednesday, Sweden and Denmark joined the ranks, announcing that adolescents should get ...[text shortened]... way, does anyone think that requiring 2 doses for young people to access public venues is rational?

More evidence of real myocarditis risk in boys, especially after the second dose.

https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19vaccine/94892

The issue is fading away from a toss-up; 2 doses for healthy boys is looking more and more like the clearly wrong choice.

@metal-brain said
"Put another way, does anyone think that requiring 2 doses for young people to access public venues is rational?"

Even one dose is not rational. Children are more likely to die from the flu than covid.

https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/09/09/fact-check-is-flu-harder-on-kids-than-covid-19/113718780/

@sh76 said
===Children are more likely to die from the flu than covid.===

That's a silly argument in light of the fact that we give children the flu shot.

@mott-the-hoople said
not silly at all…flu vaccines have a track record

@sh76 said
So do COVID vaccines. A billion shots must have been delivered by now.

@Mott-The-Hoople
So you can't do the same research anyone can do on the net? You ever hear of GOOGLE?

Try it sometime, maybe, just maybe, you might learn something like maybe Trump is not what you think he is.

@sonhouse said
@Mott-The-Hoople
So you can't do the same research anyone can do on the net? You ever hear of GOOGLE?

Try it sometime, maybe, just maybe, you might learn something like maybe Trump is not what you think he is.

@mott-the-hoople said
OK, describe the long term affects?

@sh76 said
===Children are more likely to die from the flu than covid.===

That's a silly argument in light of the fact that we give children the flu shot.

@sh76 said
In all previous vaccines, ever, adverse effects happen, if at all, in the first 8 weeks after the vaccine.

There is no reason to believe this one will be different.

@sh76 said
In all previous vaccines, ever, adverse effects happen, if at all, in the first 8 weeks after the vaccine.

There is no reason to believe this one will be different.

@sh76 said
So do COVID vaccines. A billion shots must have been delivered by now.