The FDA and CDC have approved vaccines for the last remaining demographic in the U.S.: children under the age of five. Doctors say the move is important for immunity in this age group as well as broader herd immunity. But some parents may be unsure of what vaccine their child will get and what the dosage might be. Dr. Rajeev Fernando, expert in Disaster Medicine at Harvard Medical School and global infectious diseases doctor joins Closing Bell to explain what parents should know about vaccines for kids under five, why vaccines for this age group are important, and more. 

Closing Bell

CDC Authorizes COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids Under Five: What Should Parents Know?

let's turn now to some good news for many parents who have been anxious about young kids in covid the C. D. C. This weekend authorizing vaccinations for kids between the ages of six months and five years old. And the agency's committee unanimously recommending the shots from Pfizer and Moderna for infants and preschoolers. It's the last demographic in the U. S. To get access to covid vaccines. And there are nearly 20 million Children in this age group here in the us. So joining me now is dr rajiv Fernando expert in disaster medicine at Harvard Medical School and global infectious diseases. Doctor dr Fernando. Thanks so much for joining. How significant is it that this age group is now eligible for the vaccination? Well Kristin thank you so much for having me and it's a huge moment right now because we do know parents have been so anxious now we're into the third year of the pandemic and all the parents are like where are the vaccines for this age group? And finally right now Kristen we know influenza vaccines can be given six months and above every american The same thing with kids right now this age group six months and above everyone can get this vaccine. Fantastic news for parents. So what do parents need to know doctor? How many shots are required? When are they given? And what's the dosage? Yeah so that is very important. You see these two different vaccines. Uh Fizer who's really been been the front runner so far with vaccines in this country. It's given about 350 million. But moderna has given only 220 million vaccines. But I feel this time around Moderna may actually get some momentum. The reason I say this is for kids for parents. Moderna offers only two doses, which means there's two trips to the pediatrician's. You give it and you're done now to make that third tip to the pediatrician may have people parents concerned that they want to go in, do they want to have their child stuck again? Both are great vaccines, but it remains to be seen for now. I think, you know, I've spoken to multiple parents and pediatricians around the country, everyone seems to prefer the two dose regimen, but both of them worked absolutely amazing. Well, certainly for immunity. I think this is a good thing, not just probably for this young age group, the youngest americans out there, but also for other generations as well. And so what does this do doctor to help us get closer to her immunity? Yeah, this is a very important step. We're able to, to vaccinate the kids right now. This age group and that's going to contribute. It's very important to understand people forget about kids, but they've still been 202 deaths in this age group and more than 20,000 kids in this age group have been hospitalized. So people a lot of times they assume that, you know, this, this age group, they don't need anything but one death is too many for our pediatric population and that's why I think it's important. They're going to be a part of the herd immunity process as well. But just on that note of herd immunity, I'm not sure whether we're going to achieve that anytime soon. The reason is the the the virus itself changes so frequently and that's a discussion for another day with the vaccines can actually keep up with the mutations of the virus. Well, let me ask you something about that doctor because at the start of this year we were hearing from experts like Bill Gates who has spent decades at least via his foundation studying vaccinations trying to get vaccinations to underserved areas Like Africa. And I think at the start of this year the hope was that COVID would move from a pandemic to an endemic at least by the end of 2022. Do you think that's still realistic if not? I mean at what point do you think we could move to an endemic? Yeah, kristen great question. And I'm gonna stay with a fair amount of confidence that I don't think we're going to achieve that level anytime soon. Remember it's important to understand that this virus is going to keep mutating, making changes. Let's put that in perspective with something like the monkey pox for example, the monkey pox the virus itself is a very sturdy virus. So it doesn't really mutate. But Covid. Coronavirus is very different. That's what it loves to do mutate and understand, understand the fact that, you know, this virus mutates every day, thousands and thousands of mutations every single day. But it's just as one or two mutations that come to the forefront and that's when we see new variants, new lineages arise. So I think it's going to be really hard to get to herd immunity anytime in the near future. But what we can do as mankind is to get vaccinated is a big change six months and above every american get vaccinated. So certainly as the CDC does clear the way for the youngest americans to actually get those vaccination shots, hopefully we'll get closer to herd immunity but dr based on what you're saying, it sounds like even within the next few years you think that covid will remain a pandemic, Is that true? No, I think we'll get better and better. It really, I'm going to be honest to anybody who says that I can predict the future with Covid is it's not, it doesn't really know what's going on. We've learned so many times, Kristen that this virus is always ahead of us. Every time we try to make a prediction and stay well this summer it's going to get better. It's unsure. All we need is a new variant to just come into the picture and just change things right now. Things seem a little bit milder kristen because the strain that came up in december, which shook America is the omicron variant and the omicron variant. Right now we're having what's called sub lineages, so different sorts of omicron, which is why the which is why what we're having right now are these surges that come and go. But remember all it takes? Like I said, multiple mutations to change the variant completely. I mean the vaccines are not gonna have any effect. So I think right now big, big positive step. All we need to do is get vaccinated right now. All right. Dr rajiv Fernando, expert in disaster medicine at Harvard Medical School and global infectious diseases. Doctor. Such good insight. Thank you for joining.