Thread by @awong37

"Hi Alex. My 11 year-old is ready to get vaccinated. BUT, he/she turns 12 in less than a month. Should I wait and get the higher 30 μg dose of vaccine at age 12, or just go ahead & give the lower 10 μg dose right away?"

Answer: DON'T wait, go right away.

🧵 below. (1/7)

The appropriate dosing of vaccine ISN'T dependent on weight, but rather their age. The immune system of a 'small' 11 year-old is functionally the same as a 'large' 11 year-old. The immune response isn't weight-dependent, per se. (2/7)

Younger children in general have very active immune systems, another reason why lower dosing makes sense and leads them to produce the same degree of antibody response as those ages 16-25 who received a higher dose of vaccine. (3/7)

Another consideration: waiting longer means that there's a longer period of time where your child isn't partially / fully protected against COVID-19 infection. That isn't ideal either, especially when so much Delta is circulating literally all around the world. (4/7)

Added benefit of lower dosing: less side effects like fevers & rigors in the 5-11 age group receiving lower dose of vaccine vs. older children who received higher doses. Yet, SAME antibody response overall, so SAME protective benefit. (5/7)

Another very likely added benefit of lower dosing: less risk of myocarditis & heart inflammation events as a result of the lower vaccine dose vs. giving a higher vaccine dose. (6/7)

In summary, lower 10 μg dose x 2 over 3 weeks makes sense in ages 5-11. Don't wait till they are 12, please just get it done for your children once they are eligible to receive their doses.

Nice summary from @nytimes below for additional reference. (7/7)

nytimes.com/2021/10/26/wel…