To curb the spread of Covid-19 in the future, U.S. officials must convince skeptical parents to vaccinate their children, said Dr. Peter Hotez on Wednesday.
“There will have to be a lot of public communication and a lot of advocacy because parents will be a little skeptical about … a brand new mRNA technology for their children,” said Hotez, co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development Texas Children’s Hospital, said CNBC’s “The news with Shepard Smith.”
Hotez’s comments came afterwards Pfizer announced Earlier in the day the vaccine was 100% effective in children ages 12-15, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the company would soon submit the new data to the Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies. He added Pfizer would request a change to its emergency permit to include anyone 12 and older.
“We see adolescents going to pediatric intensive care units, they get sick, especially those with underlying risk factors,” said Hotez. “If we really want to stop virus transmission, 80 to 85% of the population will have to be vaccinated now that we have variant B.1.1.7, which is so highly transmissible, and I think we could do that.” that by involving young people. “
Hotez said he thinks the US could “vaccinate maybe 75% of adults” by the summer but cautioned that “we are in a race with this B.1.1.7 variant,” leading to higher mortality and death rates Hospital admission rates leads.
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This article originally appeared on www.cnbc.com
