For parents seeking a sense of normalcy, Dr. John Christenson, medical director of infectious disease at Riley Children's Health, says it is important adults get the vaccine when it is available because for now, those under 16 in Indiana will not be able to get it.
"These vaccines are well studied and I think the data is going to show they're effective and safe," Christenson said. "Some people have predicted that you're probably not going to see widespread vaccination of children until the summer."
HERE'S WHEN WE MAY GET A VACCINE FOR CHILDREN
Mom of two, Tiffany Fincher, says despite the challenges of the pandemic, she and her husband have been able to find a silver lining.
"We now have a newborn and we're just living a wonderful life. Never been happier," Fincher said.
Being forced to keep to themselves because of the pandemic worked the first month of their new baby's life, but it's now having its drawbacks.
"Nobody was going to question why we didn't want them, friends or anybody, around," Fincher said. "We're to the point where in a regular year, we'd be sharing him more with everybody, having a couple friends over, at least some close family."
Yearning for that sense of normalcy, she and her husband are watching the news about vaccines closely. They know kids won't get it at first. Because of their ages and health, they'll be down the line as well.
"When it is offered freely, hopefully by that point we'll have more information, but we will want to take it," Fincher said.
Christenson said there are a lot of variables and the vaccine will be studied extensively before being given to kids. For parents worried about side effects, he says the most common will be potential pain where you get the shot, muscle aches, fatigue and in some cases, fever. However, he stresses these are normal reactions to vaccines.
"They have nothing to do with getting COVID from the vaccine. What they are is your own immune response responding to the substance you're injecting into the arm," Christenson said.
