Thousands of children across the country between the age of 6 months and 11-years-old are part of a clinical trial for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Up until now, none of the three vaccines have been authorized for anyone under the age of 16.
People against vaccines for keiki do not believe it’s supported by enough scientific data. Supporters are confident it does offer protection against the coronavirus. The trials test for safety and efficiency of the vaccines in children.
13-year-old Anastasiya is an eighth grader at Kaimuki Middle School, she wants to be a part of the trial but mom and dad won’t let her.
“I think with adults, we can take informed decisions about what level of risk we’re willing to accept. With our kids, they’re just starting out, if there’s a bad reaction. It’s a lot more years of potential down side,” Burke Burnett, a parent, said.
For now, it’s a no. But dad himself believes in the vaccine and wants his daughter to receive a dose if or when it’s approved.
“The vaccine is going to be the way we all get out of this huge disaster,” Burnett said.
For Lisa Hand, putting her two keiki in a what if situation is out of her comfort zone.
“Children are so vulnerable as they’re developing. Their whole body is developing,” Hand said.
Hand says she did her own research and she’s still not convinced.
“They don’t help with curing it. They can’t help you not get COVID and so to me, an experimental drug like that to me seems more risky at this point,” Hand said.
Acting state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble believes vaccinating kids against COVID-19 could be beneficial.
“Children, while they’re less likely to transmit, they can still transmit COVID-19. They can contribute to infecting their families, their families,” Kemble said.
Pharmaceutical company Pfizer is also conducting a COVID-19 vaccine trial on children.
