>> I AM JUST HAPPY. >> I FEEL EXCITED BECAUSE I AM ONEPE CLOSER TO GETTING FULLY VACCINATED. >> I FELVERYT NERVOUS BUT NOW IT IS OVER AND NOW WE ARE VACCINATED. RIMAA: EXCITEMENT FROM YOUNG KIDS WHO ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR PFIZER’S COVID VACCINE. ED: CDC DIRECTOR ROCHELLE WALENSKY SIGNING OFF ON SHOTS FOR KIDS AGETHS 5 ROUG11H YESTERDAY. HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IS DR. SHIRA DORON, THE HOSPILTA EPIDEMIOLOGIST AT TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER. GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US. MARIA: YES, THANK YO U.AROUND THIS TIME LAST YEAR WE WERE HEADING INTO ANOTHER RGSU OF COVID CASES ONE THAT DERAILED MANY HOLIDAY PLANS. HOW DOES THE GREEN LIGHT TO VACCINATE KIDS CHANGE THE OUTLOOK THIS YEAR? >> HE T TIMING IS PRETTY PERFECT FOR THOSE WHO GET VACCINATED NEXTEE WK TO HAVE SOME IMMUNITY BY THANKSGIVING AND TO BE FULLY VACCINATED BY CHRISTMAS. THAT MEANS THESE KIDS ARE LESS LIKELY TO GET COVID, LESS LIKELY TO HEAV COMPLICATIONS AND LESS LIKELYO T GIVE HIGH-RISK FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIESND COVID BECAUSE IF YOU ARE NOT INFECTED, YOU CANNOT TRANSMIT THE VIRUS. :ED FOR MANY PARENTS, THIS IS A BIG RELIEF. BUT LET’S TAKE A LOOATK THIS RECENT POLL FROM THE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION. IT SHOWS ABOUT A THIRD O PARENTS DO NOT PLAN TO VACCINATE THEIR ELEMENTARY-AGE KIDS. AND ANOTHER THIRD SAY THEY WTAN TO WAIT AND SEE HOW I’’S WORKGIN WITH OTHER KIDS BEFORE TAKING THEIR OWN CHILD TO GET VACCINATED. YOU COULD ARGUE THAT MEANS AT LEAST TWO THIRDS OF PARENTS SAY THEY ARE GOING TO WAIT. HOW WILL DOCTORS WORK TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS? >> FIRST, I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TALK TO THEIR CHIL’’ PEDIATRICIAN IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VACCINE. ITS I UNDERSTANDABLE THAT PEOEPL WOULD HAVE QUESTIONS. AFTER ALL, THE STUDY FOR THIS AGE GROUP WAS FAIRLY SMALL BUT THE VACCINE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO MILLIONS OF CHILDREN IN THE OLDER EAG GROUPS AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE ANY SURPRISSE IN ADVERSE EVENTSUT B MYOCARDITIS, THIS INFLAMMATION OF THE HEART, S ENHA RARE. IT IS LIKELY IT WILL BE MORE RARE IN THIS AGE GROUP AND T HEDOSE IS A LOT SMALLER FOR THIS AGE GROUP. ATTH IS WHY THE ADVISORY GROUPS TO THE FDA AND CDC, WORLD-RENOWNED EXPERTS, BOTH DETERMINE THE BENEFITS OF VACCINATION OUTWEIGHHE T RISKS FOR CHILDREN IN THIS AGE GROUP. MARIA: WE’VE TALKED ABOUTHT BEFORE, HOW IMPORTANT THE VACCINE IS AS A WEAPON FOR PREVENTING HOSPITALIZATION AND DEAT.HS ONCE KIDS ARE VACCINATED, WHAT KINDS OF PRECAUTIONS WILL STLIL BE NEEDED? >> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. CHILDREN WITH COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS WHO MIGHT BE EXPECTED TO T RESPOND, LIKE THOSE ON CHEMOTHERAPY, SHOULD TAKE THE SAME PRECAUTIONS. FOR EVERYONE ELSE IT IS A PERSONAL CHOICE BUT SINCE THEY ARE PROTECTED AGAINST COMPLICATIONS LIKE HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH AND ADULTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES I THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE END OF RESTRICTIONS ON CHILDREN ANDN I SCHOOL ONCE THEY ARE VACCINATED. ED: DR. DORON, THANK

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Doctor thinks COVID-19 vaccine for kids will end need for restrictions

Updated: 5:00 PM EDT Nov 3, 2021

“It’s a personal choice, of course, but since they’re protected against complications like hospitalization and death, and since adults have been given the opportunity to protect themselves as well, I think that should be the end of restrictions on children and in school, once they’re vaccinated,” said Dr. Shira Doron, epidemiologist for Tufts Medical Center.

BOSTON —

“It’s a personal choice, of course, but since they’re protected against complications like hospitalization and death, and since adults have been given the opportunity to protect themselves as well, I think that should be the end of restrictions on children and in school, once they’re vaccinated,” said Dr. Shira Doron, epidemiologist for Tufts Medical Center.

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