Dr. Vivek Murthy
In a virtual media briefing on November 18, U.S. surgeon Vivek Murthy talked about the FDA and CDC’s authorization and recommendations for pediatric vaccines for children aged 5 to 11.
“We now have the opportunity to protect some of the most vulnerable members of the community. I say this is not only as a doctor and surgeon, but also as a father with two children under 12 years old. My wife Alice and I have been waiting for this. The moment comes so that we can get our children also protected. And this is what the vaccine does.”
He explained that the vaccine is very effective and very safe.
“This vaccine is specifically tailored for children,” Murthy said. “The dose is lower-about one-third of the adult dose-but it has also undergone clinical trials specifically for children between the ages of 5 and 11. During their review process, they followed the same high standards that we apply to all vaccines.”
At the same time, the city of Seattle is preparing to protect residents from COVID-19 during the holidays.
As of press time, 87.5% of Seattle residents over the age of 12 have begun to vaccinate.
Mayor Jenny Durkan said: “We are leading the way in ensuring the safety of the community, but the pandemic is still with us.” “As we approach the holidays and look forward to finally gathering safely with family and friends, vaccines and Testing is still a key tool to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community…We have a responsibility to prevent this infection from increasing again. Wear a mask, wash your hands, get vaccinated, and perform it when you have symptoms or the first signs of exposure Detection.”
Test locations include fixed locations with UW Medicine in Aurora, SODO, Rainier Beach and West Seattle, as well as seven Curative kiosks throughout the city. Since its launch in 2020, the City of Seattle, the University of Washington, and the Curative site have conducted more than 1.2 million tests.
Health officials stated that residents should plan ahead for COVID-19 testing and may increase the time waiting for results, as they anticipate an increase in demand when people travel and gather indoors during the holidays.
COVID-19 may be similar to the common cold or seasonal flu. Anyone with any of the following symptoms should seek testing: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body pain, headache, loss of taste or Smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.
If you have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more, you should also be tested.
Anyone over the age of 5 who lives or works in King County but has not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine or is eligible for the booster vaccine should make an appointment immediately. Booster eligibility has been extended to anyone over the age of 18 who has received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago; anyone over the age of 18 who has received Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months before; and anyone who has received Pfizer or Pfizer at least 28 days before Anyone over the age of 18 with moderate or severe immune function of the Moderna vaccine.
This health series is funded by the Washington State Department of Health, which has no editorial opinions or supervision of these contents.
