EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — While COVID-19 vaccines begin to roll out for children between the ages of 6 months to 5 years, many parents are still apprehensive to give their children the vaccine.
“This is largely a vaccine preventable disease. So what we want parents to understand is this actually is a pretty serious virus that does a lot of harm to children, both in the short and long term and vaccines the best way to keep them protected and safe,” pediatrician Eric Ball told “Inside the Issues” host Alex Cohen.
Only 18% of parents said they would get their children vaccinated right away, with 38% saying they would wait, and 27% said they would definitely not give their children the shot, according to a poll from Kaiser Health Foundation published last month.
Over 500 children in the United States under the age of 5 have died due to COVID-19, Ball stated. Dr. Ball noted that the vaccine apprehension from parents is founded in misperceptions about the symptoms for children who get infected with COVID-19.
“A lot of people say it’s just like the flu, it’s not a big deal. It’s just a cold, kids will get over it. But what we’re seeing on the ground as pediatricians and in my institution, Children’s Health Orange County (CHOC)…the majority of kids who’ve been hospitalized at CHOC in the past six months during this omicron wave have been under the age of 5,” Ball said.
Ball mentioned parents should get comfort in knowing the safety of the vaccines has been tested on a constant basis for almost two years now. In comparison, the effects long COVID has on children’s wellbeing is concerning.
“COVID, on the other hand, we know that has long-term effects. I see kids with long COVID. I see kids who have neurologic issues, heart issues, lung issues that might never go away,” Ball continued. “And it’s very, very easy to protect them from this happening by getting kids vaccinated.”
Contrasting facts and false information that spreads online might deter parents from getting their children vaccinated, Ball noted. The pediatrician hopes people see him and other pediatric health professionals as trusted sources when it comes to vaccinating their children.
“I am a parent. I have two children who are fully vaccinated. I take care of children. I, myself, am vaccinated. And that’s what I tell my patients is that I would never treat them differently than I treat my own family, who are all fully vaccinated and protected,” Ball said.
Let “Inside the Issues” know your thoughts and watch Monday through Friday at 8 and 11 p.m. on Spectrum News 1.