The Food & Drug Administration may authorize the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for young children ages 5-11 sometime in the next few weeks. In this Q&A, Dr. Mandie Svatek, a pediatric hospitalist at University Health and associate professor at UT Health San Antonio, answers common questions from worried parents, and why she allowed her own daughter to participate in a COVID-19 vaccine clinical study. Feel free to use any of this footage in your reporting.

00:00     Why has authorization for kids in this age group taken so long?

01:18     Should this give parents peace of mind?

02:03     Should parents be concerned about myocarditis with the COVID-19 vaccine?

02:19     Explain what is meant when pediatricians say “kids are not just little adults”.

03:04     If children don’t get as sick as adults, why should they be vaccinated?

04:02     Will children be able to get their COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccines?

04:27     Could young children have different side effects?

04:55     Are there certain conditions or medical reasons parents should take into consideration before getting a younger child vaccinated?

05:26     What is the best way to explain the benefits of the vaccine to children, especially if they have heard a lot of negative talk about it from friends or other family members?

06:25     Can you explain why CDC recommendations about COVID-19 have changed over the course of this pandemic?

08:05     Talk about why you allowed your own daughter to participate in a clinical trial.

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