Orange County

‘That would be a miracle’: Parents of medically vulnerable teens anxiously await drop in COVID-19 vaccine age eligibility

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Pfizer announced Wednesday that its COVID-19 vaccine is 100% effective against the virus in children 12 to 15.

The company is now planning to ask the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to allow emergency use, which some parents are calling a blessing, while other are more hesitant.

READ: Nearly 15 million Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines delayed by factory mixup in Baltimore

“So, the idea of her being vaccinated in a month, it just opens up the whole world to us,” mother Risa Katz said.

Doctors said the vaccine is key to getting kids back into a healthy learning environment. They think it could be about a month or so before kids 12 to 15 years old may be able to get vaccinated.

Katz said the past year has been extraordinarily difficult for her eighth-grade daughter Ashley. She has Type 1 diabetes, which means she’s tried to stay isolated to avoid catching COVID-19.

READ: When will children be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine?

“We had to make the very difficult decision to send her back to face-to-face learning in January, knowing the risk, because we were so worried about her mental health,” Katz said.

Katz said being able to get her 14-year-old vaccinated would be life-changing for their whole family.

“That would be a miracle. It really would. We would definitely be the first to sign up,” Katz said.

READ: Coronavirus: How long does immunity last after a COVID-19 vaccine?

Pediatrician Dr. Candice Jones would be right behind them.

“I will absolutely get my child vaccinated,” Jones said.

Jones said parents should start talking with their teens now about rolling up their sleeves with the time comes.

“Most young people are ready to step up to the plate, and do their part and get this vaccine,” she said.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.