TEGA CAY, S.C. — The Covid-19 vaccine is now approved for children ages 5 to 11. But, some parents in our area say they need more information before deciding whether to allow their child to get the shot.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is encouraging parents to get their child vaccinated. The CDC approved the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 on Tuesday. But, some parents across Tega Cay, Ft. Mill, and Rock Hill say they’re still not sold on their child getting the shots.
“I just need it to be around a little longer. I feel that my son is right in the middle of puberty, and I’m just not sure what the outcome of it is yet,” says Marisa Coppola, Tega Cay resident.
“I got the vaccination myself, so it’s not much of a hesitation with the vaccination, it’s more or less I don’t want to use kids as guinea pigs,” says another South Carolina parent.
In South Carolina, there have been more than 56,000 cases of Covid-19 among children ages 5 to 11. 3 children in this same group have died in South Carolina from the virus.
The side effects from the Pfizer vaccine are a sore arm, body aches, and health officials have seen some mild cases of Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle.