Pfizer seeks approval for children’s COVID-19 vaccine as report spotlights caregiver deaths

The Pfizer approval request came just after a new report shed light on caregiver deaths during the pandemic. The report was published in the medical journal Pediatrics.

“During 15 months of the COVID-19 pandemic,120,630 children in the US experienced death of a primary caregiver, including parents and grandparents providing basic needs, because of COVID-19-associated death,” the report said. “Additionally, 22,007 children experienced death of secondary caregivers.”

The report noted a racial disparity when it came to who lost a primary caregivers.

“We estimate White children account for 35% of children who lost primary caregivers, whilst White persons represent 61% of the total population,” according to the report. “In contrast, children of racial and ethnic minorities account for 65% of children losing primary caregivers, compared to 39% of the total population.”

In many instances, surviving parents or other relatives remained to provide for these children. Federal statistics are not yet available on how many U.S. children went into foster care in 2020. Researchers estimate COVID-19 drove a 15% increase in orphaned children.

“Our findings suggest an immediate need to integrate care for children into COVID-19 Emergency Response priorities, which focus on vaccination, mitigation, testing, contact tracing, and disease management,” the report said. “The magnitude of COVID-19-associated parent and caregiver death suggests effective responses should combine equitable access to vaccines with evidence-based programs for bereaved children, focusing on areas with greatest disparities.”