FDA releases new vaccination solutions in order to help close out the lengthy pandemic

After months of parents anxiously waiting to see if their elementary school aged children could get vaccinated, the time finally came. The FDA released a statement that children aged five to eleven are now eligible for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. 

At the end of October the age limit for the vaccine was extended and talk of approval for a new type of pill for those infected with COVID-19 started. The Merck COVID pill was FDA approved and recommended for immediate use by the FDA.

“Whoever is eligible should get vaccinated as soon as possible. It is the best way to prevent the spread of the disease and protect yourself and loved ones,” AP Government teacher Dalton pool said. “It is good to see the FDA and CDC have done their due diligence and adequately tested the vaccine at the various age levels before determining it to be safe and effective.”

According to junior Nadia Petru, she was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief as her younger brother was finally able to get the long awaited vaccine. Petru stated that she hopes everyone that can get the vaccine does, as it is the most effective way to end this pandemic.

“Overall I think it would be so much easier if people could get the vaccine when it is available and they are able to get it,” Petru said. “The COVID pills could also be effective, but overall the vaccine can help reduce cases by a lot.”

According to the FDA, the Pfizer vaccine is 90.7% effective in preventing COVID-19 for 5-11 year olds. For this age group, the FDA did intensive testing of it’s effectiveness and compared those findings to other age groups like those between 16 and 25.

“I think the expansion of the COVID-19 vaccine is amazing,” senior Caroline Rasmussen said. “The vaccine appears to be the best tool scientists have for mitigating the pandemic and curbing new variants from mutating.”

Having this new age group being eligible for vaccination is encouraging as five to eleven year olds make up 39% of COVID cases among those younger than 18. Having this age group being on the road to vaccines will help reduce cases and concerns over kids returning to school in person.

“It is way too early to know much, but I seriously doubt the pill will curb the spread of COVID-19,” Pool said.  “As far as I know it is just seen as a potential treatment for COVID. The best hope is that new treatments, including pills, lower hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19.” 

This pill will be given to patients currently with a positive test result for COVID-19 to help reduce their symptoms and help reduce their overall reaction to the virus. The FDA is encouraging its immediate use and backing up its effectiveness to be used by doctors.

“It is way too early to know much, but I seriously doubt the pill will curb the spread of COVID-19,” Pool said. “As far as I know it is just seen as a potential treatment for COVID-19. The best hope is that new treatments, including pills, lower hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19.”

The new Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus has caused a rise in cases in many other countries so concerns have also risen around how it will affect cases in the United States. Although this new variant is concerning, the CDC and FDA are looking into the effectiveness of the current vaccines against Omicron and have assured citizens that the current guidelines in place are very effective in protecting individuals against COVID-19 in general and this specific variant.

“I think normal will be redefined. Much like things never completely went back to “normal” after 9/11, we will never completely return to life as it was in 2019,” Pool said. “Instead, we will settle on a new normal that is more conscious of deadly disease and its potential to spread throughout societies. The new variant will keep COVID in the front of our minds longer than if it didn’t develop, but COVID will be in the back of our minds for generations to come. It is part of the human experience now.”