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San Francisco to force five-year-olds to show proof of vaccination to enter indoor venues - Daily Mail

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Vaccine mandate for KIDS: San Francisco will force children as young as FIVE to show proof of vaccination to enter indoor venues like restaurants and give parents two month DEADLINE

  • The City plans to mandate children aged 5 to 11 show proof of vaccination to enter indoor venues, health officials said on Wednesday
  • City officials made the announcement the same day the CDC granted emergency approval of the PFizer-BioNTech for that age group 
  • Children in San Francisco have roughly two months to get fully vaccinated before they must show their vaccination passports to enter venues
  • However, Covid-19 is shown to post a low-risk to children with young children accounting for less than 0.1 percent of Covid deaths in America 
  • Critics argue this shows that it is therefore unnecessary to vaccinate kids 

Children aged five to 11 will be forced to prove they are vaccinated if they want to enter restaurants and entertainment venues in San Francisco, officials have said.

The progressive city became the first in the country to impose strict vaccine mandates for indoor venues in August for all children and adults over 12.

Now, City officials plan to extend such requirements to children as young as five and made the announcement at a town hall meeting Tuesday, the same day the CDC granted emergency approval for that age group to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech shot.

However, the CDC's decision to approve the vaccine for the five to 11 age group has caused a storm of controversy nationwide, with opponents pointing to the fact there is little evidence to suggest vaccinating young children is necessary.

Data shows Covid poses a low risk to the age group, with children accounting for less than 0.1 percent of the more than 750,000 Covid-related deaths in America.

The decision means the US becomes one of the first countries in the world to officially approve jabs for this age group, with scientists in Britain warning officials there against 'blindly' following America and recommending the jab to age group.

There have been more than 1.9 million cases of Covid-19 among five- to 11-year-olds in the United States, and more than 8,300 hospitalizations, more than 2,300 cases of MIS-C (pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome), and around 100 deaths.

Polls suggest many parents are not likely to have their kids vaccinated, with one poll finding around a third would 'definitely not'.

A further third said in the poll they would 'wait and see' and five percent said they would 'only if required'. Meanwhile, just 27 percent of parents questioned said they would get their children vaccinated 'right away'.

San Francisco Health Officer Susan Philip said the city would give children roughly two months to get fully vaccinated before they must show their vaccination passports or be turned away from local establishments.

San Francisco plans to mandate children aged 5 to 11 show proof of vaccination to enter indoor venues. San Francisco Health Officer Susan Philip made the announcement at a town hall meeting via Zoom on Tuesday

San Francisco plans to mandate children aged 5 to 11 show proof of vaccination to enter indoor venues. San Francisco Health Officer Susan Philip made the announcement at a town hall meeting via Zoom on Tuesday

City officials made the announcement the same day the CDC granted emergency approval of the PFizer-BioNTech for that age group. Above, a child received the shot Wednesday in Los Angeles

City officials made the announcement the same day the CDC granted emergency approval of the PFizer-BioNTech for that age group. Above, a child received the shot Wednesday in Los Angeles

‘We definitely want to wait and make sure children have an opportunity to get vaccinated, so that will happen no sooner than about eight weeks after the vaccine is available to kids, so there will be a limited time in which there will not be those requirements in our plan,’ she said. 

‘But at some point, five to 11 year olds will also have to show proof of vaccination to access some of those same settings.’

Vaccinations for children in that age group started in California the day after the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices unanimously voted 14-0 to recommend the pediatric vaccine.

CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky then signed off on the vote, meaning that approximately 28 million children in the US are now eligible for the shots.

It was the final step in the process that will allow injections in young children to begin this week in the United States, with President Joe Biden issuing a statement calling the decision 'a turning point' in the battle against Covid-19 and said they had secured enough vaccines for every child in America.

The decision means the US becomes one of the first countries in the world to officially approve jabs for this age group, with scientists in Britain warning officials against 'blindly' following America and recommending the jab to young children. 

China has reportedly started rolling out its own vaccines to three-year-old children, and Chile is vaccinating children aged six and older. Israel, meanwhile, is expected to follow the US' lead now the CDC has approved the jabs.

Bahrain approved Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 3-11 from Oct. 27, while on Nov. 2, the Gulf state approved the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use for children aged between 5 and 11 years. 

However, these countries are currently the exception, with countries still weighing up the risks and benefits of the decision. Most are only vaccinating children aged 12 and upwards. 

Children who are vaccinated are given a third of the dose that adults receive and, like the adult inoculation, make two appointments 21 days apart.

The lower dose was chosen to minimize side effects and still produce strong immunity, Pfizer says, with studies showing that it is about 91 per cent effective against Covid.

Children who are vaccinated are given a third of the dose that adults receive. Above, a child was vaccinated Wednesday in Los Angeles

Children who are vaccinated are given a third of the dose that adults receive. Above, a child was vaccinated Wednesday in Los Angeles

Officials from the San Francisco Department of Public Health on Wednesday confirmed the plan and noted that children wouldn’t be required to show a valid form of ID.

‘As with children 12-17 who may not have personal identification, we will follow the same approach with the younger kids such that they would not be penalized for not having an ID,' a spokesperson from the department wrote in an email to Politico.

San Francisco’s requirement for children would be the first of its kind and the city does not require children to show proof of vaccination to enter school buildings.

The Los Angeles Unified School District, which requires children 12 and up to be vaccinated, announced this week that it does not intend to include children aged five to 11 in its school vaccine mandate just yet.

Governor Gavin Newsom's planned vaccine mandate for children in schools will not take effect until the FDA grants full approval for each age group. 

Bernadette Rosselli, a local mother, told Fox News that the mandate was ‘absolutely ridiculous.’

She said, ‘Parents are concerned and rightly so. I think that it’s important that we take the time to make sure that it’s gonna be safe, especially when they’re at such a low rate of risk. It’s really not necessary to rush into this. Let’s give it a little time.’

Many parents have been undecided on vaccinating their children because kids rarely get severely ill and make up less than 0.1 percent of all Covid deaths in the U.S., according to the CDC. 

Dr. Houman Hemmati noted the low infection rates in an interview with Fox News and said, ‘With vaccines, as with any drug, there’s a calculation that has to be made of risk, benefit and need.'

A majority of parents that do not have plans to get their child aged 12 to 17 vaccinated for Covid cite concerns about side effects as the reason why. Around a third are waiting to see if the vaccine is safe, and a quarter are not sure if their children even need the shots

A majority of parents that do not have plans to get their child aged 12 to 17 vaccinated for Covid cite concerns about side effects as the reason why. Around a third are waiting to see if the vaccine is safe, and a quarter are not sure if their children even need the shots

Because of the low risk of severe illness, only a third of parents have said they would get their children vaccinated 'right away', with a further third saying they would 'wait and see'. Five percent said they would 'only if required,' while 30 percent said 'definitely not'

Because of the low risk of severe illness, only a third of parents have said they would get their children vaccinated 'right away', with a further third saying they would 'wait and see'. Five percent said they would 'only if required,' while 30 percent said 'definitely not'

He added, 'If a drug has a great risk benefit, but it doesn’t have a medical need, why take it? If I’m not in pain, I don’t take a pain medicine for example. That’s a generalization, but for vaccines you have to make sure there is a need.’

A hospital in Connecticut began administering Covid-19 vaccines to children, aged between five to 11, just minutes after the CDC officially signed off on approval.  

Pictures from Hartford Hospital in Connecticut on Tuesday night showed children queuing to get their vaccines, with Pharmacist Colleen Teevan being the one to administer the jabs.

'I could cry,' one mother, Liz Cronin, told AFP. 'We've all been waiting for it for so long for our kids to ... have this almost sense of normalcy back.'

Six-year-old Kareem Omar said the shot 'doesn't really hurt,' adding: 'Do it for the sake of America. Because it's helping America and the world, so, life is better for each and every person on Earth.'  

A majority of parents who are hesitant to get their child vaccinated, like Rosselli, fear potential side effects of the vaccine. 

The Week 39 Household Pulse survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau and  published on Wednesday, asked parents of children aged 12 to 17 - who were unsure or definitely did not plan to get their child vaccinated - their reasons for hesitation.

More than two-thirds, 69 percent, reported they were concerned about side-effects, while one in every four parents said they were not sure if their children needed the shot.

A ten year old child high fives Pharmacist Colleen Teevan after he received the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine for kids at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut

A ten year old child high fives Pharmacist Colleen Teevan after he received the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine for kids at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut

Of 45.7 million respondents, 13 million parents answered they either were 'unsure' of, 'will probably not' or would 'definitely not' getting their child vaccinated.

Those 13 million respondents were then asked why they did not plan on getting their children jabbed.

Nearly one-third reported that they would wait to see whether the vaccine was safe in children that age.

Around 30 percent of parents said they do not trust the government, and three percent say they do not give their child any vaccines.

Among vaccine-hesitant parents who don't trust the government, California has the highest share at 71 percent 

Many of these parents also fall within the 69 percent of parents who are concerned about the jab's side-effects and 24 percent who are not sure if their children need the shot. 

The most serious side effect that can strike children is myocarditis, heart inflammation, a rare condition which is usually minor but can result in death in more serious cases.

However, such a condition has only been reported in patients who received the Johnson & Johnson or AstraZeneca shots.  

In Britain, scientists have warned against officials 'blindly' recommending the jabs to young children without weighing up the risks 'extremely carefully'.

Children watch as Pharmacist Colleen Teevan reconstitutes the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine for kids before administering it to six children waiting to be among the first 5-11 years olds in the US to receive the newly approved vaccine at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut on November 2, 2021

Children watch as Pharmacist Colleen Teevan reconstitutes the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine for kids before administering it to six children waiting to be among the first 5-11 years olds in the US to receive the newly approved vaccine at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut on November 2, 2021

The caps on the children's vials will be orange, making them easily recognizable compared to the purple caps on the vials for older groups. Pictured: A vial  of the new children's dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, seen at Hartford Hospital in Hartford on Tuesday

The caps on the children's vials will be orange, making them easily recognizable compared to the purple caps on the vials for older groups. Pictured: A vial  of the new children's dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, seen at Hartford Hospital in Hartford on Tuesday

Professor David Livermore, a medical microbiologist at the University of East Anglia told the MailOnline last week: 'Vaccinating children to protect adults via herd immunity is ethically dubious and is scientifically weak.'

There are also still fears about myocarditis, a form of heart inflammation detected in children, mostly boys, in around one in 10,000 cases after vaccination.

Critics say children are better off catching Covid and getting protection naturally because the risk of being admitted to ICU is about one in 500,000.

There are signs that natural immunity in British youngsters is already slowing the epidemic. But some studies have suggested myocarditis is even more common after Covid infection itself, which complicates the matter further.

While most cases of myocarditis after the Covid jab are mild and treatable, the UK Government's scientific advisers say the long-term effects of the inflammation is not understood.

Data used to justify the FDA panel's decision showed nearly 180 children would be expected to suffer from myocarditis for every death the vaccine would prevent if the rollout went ahead.

But the side effect would not be expected to cause any deaths.

The rollout would stop over 200 hospitalisations and a handful of deaths over a six-month period, by comparison.

And the data showed it could stop tens of thousands of infections in the same time

Stickers for children are seen ahead of full approval from the CDC for children to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut on November 2, 2021

Stickers for children are seen ahead of full approval from the CDC for children to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut on November 2, 2021

The CDC had convened a panel of independent scientists on Tuesday to review the available data on the status of the outbreak in children, the effectiveness of Pfizer's vaccine, and its possible side effects during a day of live-streamed discussions.

The panel unanimously recommended the vaccine, and the CDC then endorsed that recommendation.

The main concern was the risk of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, detected in adolescents and young adults (mostly males) after vaccination with the Pfizer or Moderna shots.

Health authorities have confirmed nearly 880 cases in people under 30 years of age, of which approximately 830 required hospitalization.

Nine deaths are suspected to have been related to myocarditis after the vaccine.

But of six cases so far reviewed, vaccine-related myocarditis was ultimately not identified as the cause of death, pediatric cardiologist Dr. Matthew Oster said in a presentation.

'I'm much more worried about what would happen to their child if they get Covid, for patients who don't have heart disease, than I am if they were to get this vaccine,' he added. 

The FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted 17-0-1 that benefits of the vaccine for kids aged five to 11 outweigh the potential risks.

One member of the FDA advisory panel abstained from a vote on recommending the shot to kids last week because he said there is not enough evidence that all children need the shot. 

Dr Michael Kurilla (pictured) was the only member to abstain  in the FDA's advisory committee vote of 17-0-1 to recommend approval of COVID-19 vaccines in children ages five to 11

Dr Michael Kurilla (pictured) was the only member to abstain  in the FDA's advisory committee vote of 17-0-1 to recommend approval of COVID-19 vaccines in children ages five to 11

Dr Michael Kurilla, the director of the Division of Clinical Innovation, at the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, who was the only member to not vote 'yes', told DailyMail.com there were several reasons behind his abstention.  

Kurilla says there are children at high-risk of severe Covid due to underlying conditions who would benefit from the shot, but he's not sure if this applies to all kids in this age group.

Additionally, he said that kids who have been infected with Covid in the past already likely have immunity because of it. 

Kurilla added current data does not suggest the vaccine's protection will last long enough and he is worried that antibodies will wane in children as has been seen in adults. 

The government was well ahead of the decision, procuring enough doses for the children in the 5-11 age group and beginning to ship them across the country.

'Today, we have reached a turning point in our battle against Covid-19,' President Joe Biden said in a statement released by the White House.

Vaccinating younger children will 'allow parents to end months of anxious worrying about their kids, and reduce the extent to which children spread the virus to others. It is a major step forward for our nation in our fight to defeat the virus,' the president continued.

A mother holds her childs hand as she prepares to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine for kids 5-11 at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut on November 2, 2021

A mother holds her childs hand as she prepares to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine for kids 5-11 at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut on November 2, 2021

The government has already secured enough vaccine for every child in America, he said, adding that over the weekend officials began the process of packing and shipping millions of doses.

'The program will ramp up over the coming days, and (be) fully up and running during the week of November 8,' he said.

The vaccine will still be given in two injections, three weeks apart. The dosage has been adjusted to 10 micrograms per injection, compared to 30 micrograms for the older age groups.

The caps on the children's vials will be orange, making them easily recognizable compared to the purple caps on the vials for older groups.

'As a mom, I encourage parents with questions to talk to their pediatrician, school nurse or local pharmacist to learn more about the vaccine and the importance of getting their children vaccinated,' CDC director Rochelle Walensky said in a statement.  

The expected benefits of vaccinating children also include fewer school closures, and a possible reduction in transmission of the epidemic into the general population. 

'If I had a grandchild, I would certainly get that grandchild vaccinated as soon as possible,' said Beth Bell, an infectious disease specialist and committee member on the CDC's independent panel.

'We have excellent evidence of efficacy and safety. We have a favorable risk benefit analysis.'   

What are other countries doing about Covid-19 vaccinations for children 

The United States is set to roll out Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 this week and the shots could be administered as soon as Wednesday.

A panel of outside experts is due to meet on Tuesday to vote on how broadly the shot should be recommended in the age group by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The vaccine was authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the age group on Friday.

But with many parts of the world still awaiting doses for more vulnerable people, the World Health Organisation has urged countries and companies that control the global supply of the vaccines to prioritize supply to COVAX.

The following is a list of some countries that have approved or are considering vaccinating children:

EU COUNTRIES

  • On Oct. 18, the EU's medicines regulator said it had started evaluating the use of Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine in 5 to 11-year-old children.
  • In June, Denmark said it would offer COVID-19 shots to children aged 12-15 to boost its overall immunity against the virus.
  • France has started vaccinating those from 12 years upwards, provided they have parental consent.
  • Germany in August agreed to make vaccination available to all children aged 12-17.
  • Austria has started vaccinating children aged 12-15.
  • Estonia could start vaccinating teenagers by the autumn, public broadcaster ERR reported, citing the head of the government's COVID-19 council.
  • Hungary started vaccinating 16 to 18-year-olds in mid-May, according to Xinhua news agency.
  • Italy on May 31 approved extending the use of Pfizer's vaccine to 12-15 year olds. On July 28, it also endorsed the use of Moderna's vaccine for 12-17 aged children.
  • Lithuania's prime minister said the country could start vaccinating children from age 12 in June, news site Delfi reported.
  • Spain begun vaccinating children between 12 and 17 years old around two weeks before the academic year in September, the health minister said.
  • Swedish PM says children aged 12-15 will be offered COVID vaccine later this autumn.
  • Greece in July said children aged 12-15 could be vaccinated against COVID-19 with Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna shots.
  • Finland's capital Helsinki in June said it will begin giving COVID-19 vaccines to children aged 12 to 15 who are at risk of contracting a severe coronavirus infection.
  • On July 27, Ireland lowered the age for COVID-19 vaccination to 12 years.
  • Poland started offering COVID-19 vaccines to children of ages 12-15.

EUROPE (NON-EU)

  • On Oct. 19, UK said it will open up COVID vaccine booking service to those aged 12-15.
  • Switzerland approved on June 4 vaccinating 12 to 15-year-olds with Pfizer's shot, while Moderna's shot was approved in August for the age group.
  • In September, Norway started to offer one dose of Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to children aged 12 to 15

MIDDLE EAST

  • In August, Israel began offering a COVID-19 booster to children as young as 12.
  • The United Arab Emirates said in August rolled out China's Sinopharm vaccine to children aged 3-17. On Nov.1, UAE approved Pfizer-BioNtech shot for children aged 5-11 for emergency use.
  • Bahrain approved Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 3-11 from Oct. 27, while on Nov. 2, the Gulf state approved the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use for children aged between 5 and 11 years.

ASIA-PACIFIC

  • Indonesia on Nov. 1 authorised China's Sinovac vaccine for children aged 6 and above.
  • Malaysia on Oct. 29 said it would procure the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, following a U.S. expert panel's recommendation
  • Vietnam will begin inoculating children aged 16 and 17 with parental consent from next month using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
  • An advisory committee to the Indian regulator recommended emergency use of Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 shot in the 2 to 18 age-group. The regulator's nod is awaited.
  • New Zealand's medicines regulator in June provisionally approved use of Pfizer's vaccine for 12-15 year olds.
  • Australia said on Sept. 12 it will expand its COVID-19 vaccination drive to include around one million children aged 12-15.
  • China on June 5 approved emergency use of Sinovac's vaccine for those between three and 17.
  • Hong Kong said on June 3 it would open its vaccine scheme to children over the age of 12.
  • Singapore opened up its vaccination programme to adolescents aged 12-18 from June 1.
  • Japan on May 28 approved the use of Pfizer's vaccine for those aged 12 and above.
  • The Philippines on May 26 decided to allow the Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine for emergency use in children aged 12-15.
  • Jordan in July begun vaccinating children aged 12 years and older against COVID-19.

AMERICAS

  • The COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer-BioNTech will be the only one used in Mexico for at-risk children aged 12-17.
  • Brazil on June 11 approved use of Pfizer's vaccine for children over 12.
  • On Sept. 6, Chile approved the COVID-19 vaccine produced by China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd for use in children over 6 years of age.
  • U.S. FDA has authorized the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky must make her recommendations before it can be rolled out.
  • Canada in early May approved use of Pfizer's vaccine for use in children aged 12-15 but the decision for children between 5 an 11 years is not likely to come before mid- to end-November.
  • Cuba's vaccination campaign includes children as young as two.
  • On Sept. 13, El Salvador cleared the use of COVID-19 vaccine in 6 to 11-year-old children. (https://bit.ly/30RiKe7)
  • Argentina is vaccinating children as young as three with Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine. (https://bit.ly/3miSiCD)
  • Ecuador's vaccination includes kids as young as six with the China's Sinovac vaccine
  • Columbia is offering Pfizer, AstraZenenca, Moderna, Sinopharm and J&J's COVID-19 vaccines for children 12 years and above
  • Costa Rica is vaccinating 12 years and above

AFRICA

  • South Africa will start vaccinating children between the ages of 12 and 17 next week using the Pfizer vaccine

Reporting by Reuters 

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