Some parents apprehensive about getting their children vaccinated against COVID-19

FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) – The Fishers Health Department is administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children beginning Thursday.

The department encourages parents to make an appointment at this time.

While some parents will be racing to vaccinate their elementary-age children as fast as possible, others will have questions about whether or not want to go first.

The latest poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows parents may be a little hesitant in getting their child vaccinated.

Some of the biggest questions are whether COVID-19 vaccines can negatively affect fertility and puberty in children and possible long-term side effects.

Health experts are hoping to ease those fears.

Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen said, “I think whatever side effects we see really have to be compared against the risks of not getting the vaccine. More than 8,300 children in this age group have been hospitalized due to COVID-19. A third of them ended up in the ICU.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) said there is no evidence that the vaccine can lead to loss of fertility and side effects are temporary and mostly mild or moderate.

Members of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners are speaking out in favor of the vaccine.