This past November, the CDC approved the COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of five and twelve. By now, about two million children in this age group have gotten their first shot. In November of this year, a study of 3,200 children was conducted by Pfizer , showing that the vaccine was 90% effective for preventing symptoms of COVID-19. Although the dosage size for these kids is just one third of what the rest of us got, parents, faculty and students alike in the Fieldston community already feel safer.
We talked with two newly vaccinated sixth graders from Fieldston Middle, Sammy Wechter and Ben Fink. Both students agreed that they were “more excited because it will become easier knowing that [we] will be just a little bit safer.” The two also agree that having themselves vaccinated protects their families as well.
“In the beginning of COVID, I was never in a store, and when I got my first shot, I was able to go into some places,” Wechter said, as vaccines were only available for adults in late February of 2021.
“My COVID life hasn’t changed a lot before I was vaccinated, but now, I am starting to go into my friend’s houses more and be less cautious than me and my family were in the beginning of COVID”, said Fink. As some parents and children are hesitant to get the vaccine, both Wechter and Fink replied that personally they do not know anyone who did not want to get the shot.
“I think the ones who don’t want to get vaxxed, are just scared that they don’t want the after effects… maybe they feel uncomfortable by the shot,” Wechter said.
“I respect if someone in my grade does not want to get the vaccine…but I do not really understand why,” Fink said. As of the week of December 2nd, there was only one case of COVID in the middle school and no new cases in the upper school. Even though COVID cases are few to none each week, there are still precautions held to make sure that there are no outbreaks, like keeping the air filters on in every classroom and constantly wearing masks indoors.
“I definitely feel safe at school, especially with all of the different measures taking place…and as more people at Fieldston get vaccinated, then people will be able to do more things that are less COVID aware and noticeable things in our community will change, like maybe eating in the cafeteria again,” Fink said.
The vaccine creates a safer environment for the whole community. “I think it’s especially important because we are still in this pandemic, it’s not over yet,” Wechter reflects. Without all the students and faculty becoming vaccinated, we would be missing out on all of the things that make up our Fielston community.
We also spoke to 9th grade biology teacher Palma Repole and 8th grade science teacher Stephanie Behrens. Repole has a ten year old daughter, and Behrens has a seven year old son and a two and a half year old daughter. Both were eager to vaccinate their children. “I signed her up as soon as I could,” Repole stated, as she knew it was the right thing to do to protect both her daughter and help get the city back to normal.
There are so many factors that affect children’s safety during the pandemic, so “if there is anything I can do to prevent my kids from getting sick, I want to do that,” Beherens agrees.
Already, New York City has seen huge differences in the numbers of COVID cases; as vaccination numbers rise, COVID case numbers fall.
Children under 12 are only receiving a third of the dosage size of what adults received. This has made some parents want to wait until their child is old enough to get the full dose. “I do whatever the doctor suggests… I am totally okay with it,” Behrens explained. Behrens got her seven year old vaccinated as soon as it was available.
“This vaccine will continue to be tweaked for everyone,” Repole replied, “so there is no benefit in waiting.” Many would agree with this, because getting even a smaller dose is better than nothing at all. Neither teacher seems worried about the dosage size, in part because they both know that we will have to get boosters so, “we’ll get the next dose when that’s available, and so on.”
Knowing it was the right thing to do was not the only thing that fueled Behrens’ desire to get her
son vaxxed: “I think about my parents, and I want [my kids] to be able to see my parents a lot.” For many adults, one of the most important reasons they want to vaccinate their children is because of family. Not only are individual families benefiting from this, but the entire Fieldston community as well. “Our school has been doing a great job,” Behrens said, and it will just keep getting better with even more students getting the shot.
It is without a doubt impacting our school for the better, and “the effect is that it makes it so we can function and keep our doors open,” Repole simply explains.
As with vaccines for adults, there are still some people who are hesitant to get their child vaccinated. Things like misinformation and not fully understanding the vaccine makes people wary of how the shot might affect their children. Both teachers know people who have not gotten their kids vaccinated, but do not understand why they would make that decision.
“I try very hard to listen to their arguments, but I don’t hear anything that makes sense,” Repole adds. Finally, the fact that younger kids are now eligible is giving many people hope that the final age group waiting to be approved-kids under five, will be approved soon. Behrens’ daughter falls into this group, and she says “I hope in 2022, sometime in that year,” that her two-year-old will be able to get vaccinated. This is definitely a huge step, and with almost everyone eligible to get the vaccine, it is no surprise that people are hoping for more positive changes throughout the country.
As a whole, vaccines have had an incredibly positive impact on the world and our community. Everyone feels safer with more people getting vaccinated, and school is reaching closer to normal now that all middle schoolers and almost all elementary schoolers can get the vaccine. This is a fantastic and significant step in the long road back to normal.
