DOTHAN, Ala. – Fred Cason, 12, of Helena, spent most of the last year at home, learning virtually and working on his basketball game by himself on a hoop outside his home.
On Thursday morning, he became one of the first children under the age of 16 to receive Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in Alabama when his grandmother brought him to a drive-through clinic operated by UAB. After he receives the second shot, he will be able to go places and see friends again, but that wasn’t the most important thing motivating the middle schooler.
“I just want my family to be safe,” Cason said.
A vaccination advisory committee to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved on Wednesday expanding the emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to children between the ages of 12 and 15. Gov. Kay Ivey announced Thursday the expansion of vaccine eligibility to kids in that age group. Large-scale vaccination sites operated by UAB began offering the shots to kids before the governor’s announcement.
Several young teens showed up Thursday morning to get the shot. Kayla Smith, 14, was one of them. She attends New Hope Christian Academy and has been learning virtually all year. Smith said school has been easier online since she can complete most of her lessons pretty quickly. But it can get lonely.
“I haven’t really been able to see my friends,” Smith said. “Mostly we just talk on the phone.”
Like Cason, Smith said she is eager to get out and go places. And even though virtual school is easier, she intends to head back to school in person in the fall. She will be fully vaccinated by the time she returns to class, so she will not need to be quarantined if a friend or classmate tests positive for COVID-19.
Sahil Ahmed, 13, of Hoover had to quarantine three times last year after exposures in school, said his mother, Alisha Ahmed. He chose to attend class in person while his sister, 14-year-old Aleena Ahmed, remained virtual. Both got vaccinated Thursday morning at the Hoover Met.
“He has severe asthma, so I’m really glad he got vaccinated,” Alisha Ahmed said.
The family has plans to go an a cruise this summer in the Caribbean. Some cruise lines require passengers to be vaccinated before boarding.
Children have been less affected by COVID-19 than adults. Almost 11,000 people in Alabama have died from the virus, but only nine have been under the age of 18.
Still, doctors say COVID-19 can cause severe illness in children and teens. UAB researchers found that children are less likely to have high fever, cough and shortness of breath with COVID-19. They are more likely to have difficulty breathing, gastrointestinal complaints, tiredness and muscle pain.
The researchers found that about 5 percent of children diagnosed with COVID-19 required hospitalization. About one-fifth of children hospitalized with COVID-19 needed critical care. Black and Hispanic children had higher rates of hospitalization than white children.
“A key takeaway from this study is children with COVID-19 require enhanced screening and preventive measures that include low threshold for screening, ease of access to testing facilities and vaccination of eligible teenagers,” said Dr. Pankaj Arora, a physician-scientist in the UAB Division of Cardiovascular Disease. “The racial disparities in health care were also evident in the higher risk of hospitalization among children from underserved minority populations. As vaccinations become available to teenagers, we need to ensure that we make the vaccine available to all eligible children, especially those from minority populations and high-risk households.”
Although children haven’t been as affected physically, many have missed school or other activities due to the pandemic. Rowan Specht, 12, lined up for the shot as soon as it became available. He has been learning from home due to health concerns among family members.
His mother, Ashley Specht, said it has been good in some ways to spend more time with her son. But the family, and Rowan, have missed out on a lot of activities.
“I’m really excited,” Rowan Specht said. “I’m looking forward to living a normal life.”
