Apoorva Mandavilli

But what the government is saying is that we don't think that those numbers are high enough and we don't think this is a risk enough that we should be getting healthy children to get the shot. Now, their thinking is that only children who have another medical condition that puts them at severe risk are going to end up in the hospital.

But what the government is saying is that we don't think that those numbers are high enough and we don't think this is a risk enough that we should be getting healthy children to get the shot. Now, their thinking is that only children who have another medical condition that puts them at severe risk are going to end up in the hospital.

And I will say it is consistent with what a lot of other countries have decided, that they don't necessarily need to recommend vaccines to healthy kids. Even the World Health Organization says kids don't need to get a shot of COVID vaccine unless they have another serious condition. So that part is not entirely unusual.

And I will say it is consistent with what a lot of other countries have decided, that they don't necessarily need to recommend vaccines to healthy kids. Even the World Health Organization says kids don't need to get a shot of COVID vaccine unless they have another serious condition. So that part is not entirely unusual.

What is really unclear and surprising, if it's true, is that they don't seem to be making a distinction for kids who have never been vaccinated for COVID. Those are the kids who would be at most risk from the disease. We know that kids under two tend to be really vulnerable. And they did not seem to make an exception for kids who might need to get this for the first time.

What is really unclear and surprising, if it's true, is that they don't seem to be making a distinction for kids who have never been vaccinated for COVID. Those are the kids who would be at most risk from the disease. We know that kids under two tend to be really vulnerable. And they did not seem to make an exception for kids who might need to get this for the first time.

It seems so. Again, I'm saying it seems so because there was not enough detail in that video announcement to be clear, and they have not responded to questions to clarify that. But at the moment, yeah, it looks like they are saying no COVID vaccine for healthy kids, regardless of whether they've had any shots previously.

It seems so. Again, I'm saying it seems so because there was not enough detail in that video announcement to be clear, and they have not responded to questions to clarify that. But at the moment, yeah, it looks like they are saying no COVID vaccine for healthy kids, regardless of whether they've had any shots previously.

It matters because we know that kids under two are the most vulnerable to COVID. When you look at the hospitalization numbers for very young kids, they're on par with the hospitalizations for older adults, if you look at 65 plus. And so that... age group is at risk.

It matters because we know that kids under two are the most vulnerable to COVID. When you look at the hospitalization numbers for very young kids, they're on par with the hospitalizations for older adults, if you look at 65 plus. And so that... age group is at risk.

And, you know, the vaccine is not approved for kids under six months, but those kids might be protected from their mothers getting vaccinated when pregnant.

And, you know, the vaccine is not approved for kids under six months, but those kids might be protected from their mothers getting vaccinated when pregnant.

So this age group of between six months and two years, some pediatricians say it's like very important for that age group for their first exposure to COVID to be through this vaccine and not to the virus itself, because that could be really dangerous for them.

So this age group of between six months and two years, some pediatricians say it's like very important for that age group for their first exposure to COVID to be through this vaccine and not to the virus itself, because that could be really dangerous for them.

Well, I think the people who are in charge now, and that's, you know, RFK Jr., but also Marty Makary, who heads the FDA, and Bina Prasad, who now heads the vaccine and drug approval process at the FDA, they have all been quite clear that they don't think that COVID vaccines are necessary for kids. And actually, in May 2021, when COVID was still a huge issue, RFK Jr.

Well, I think the people who are in charge now, and that's, you know, RFK Jr., but also Marty Makary, who heads the FDA, and Bina Prasad, who now heads the vaccine and drug approval process at the FDA, they have all been quite clear that they don't think that COVID vaccines are necessary for kids. And actually, in May 2021, when COVID was still a huge issue, RFK Jr.

filed a petition with the FDA demanding that the agency rescind its authorization for the shots. And then the next year, he also tried to stop them from proving the shots for children. So we know he's not a fan of this vaccine for kids.

filed a petition with the FDA demanding that the agency rescind its authorization for the shots. And then the next year, he also tried to stop them from proving the shots for children. So we know he's not a fan of this vaccine for kids.

I don't think so. You know, there are millions and millions of kids all over the world have gotten this vaccine. And I've talked to FDA officials before. I've talked to vaccine safety people at the European Medicines Agency and the CDC. And all of the studies show the vaccine to be pretty safe in kids. There is that risk of heart problems in boys above a certain age of 12.

I don't think so. You know, there are millions and millions of kids all over the world have gotten this vaccine. And I've talked to FDA officials before. I've talked to vaccine safety people at the European Medicines Agency and the CDC. And all of the studies show the vaccine to be pretty safe in kids. There is that risk of heart problems in boys above a certain age of 12.