University Health doctor answers common questions from worried parents over COVID-19 vaccine for children
As the Food and Drug Administration moves toward authorizing the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children between ages five and 11, University Health Dr. Mandie Svatek broke down some common concerns parents might have about the shot.
Q&A: University Health pediatrician explains what the COVID-19 vaccine means for 12- to 15-year-olds
University Health System Pediatrician Dr. Mandie Svatek has answered questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and what it means for children, including how kids have responded to the vaccine so far, her own daughterโs experience in a drug trial and when even younger children may become eligible for the shot.
San Antonio child advocate, pediatrician shed light on long-term affects of child abuse after girl found severely emaciated
SAN ANTONIO โ A San Antonio child advocacy group is stressing the importance of child abuse awareness after police saved a severely emaciated 9-year-old girl from a couple this past week. โMy 5-year-old son, who was premature and is small for his age, is 35 pounds -- not a 9-year-old girl,โ Anderson said. โA 9-year-old girl should not be 35 pounds.โDr. Mandie Svatek, a pediatrician with UT Health San Antonio, agrees. San Antonio police said Lakendra Williams, the girlโs mother, called 911 and told dispatchers that the child had passed out and was cold to the touch. Child Abuse CasesIf you or someone you know is dealing with child abuse, follow the links below for resources:REPORT CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT TO THE STATE BY CLICKING HERE.
Young children havenโt been included in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials. Hereโs why that concerns some doctors.
SAN ANTONIO โ Editorโs note: This content was created exclusively for KSAT Explains, a weekly streaming show that dives deep into the biggest issues facing San Antonio and South Texas. Thatโs because they werenโt included in the initial clinical trials. Pfizer included children in some later trials and Moderna announced in December they would begin to incorporate children over the age of 12 in its clinical trials. โItโs good that they are testing children 12 and above. MORE: Coronavirus and kids: San Antonio epidemiologist breaks down risks, school safety
Younger children dont appear to transmit COVID-19 as easily, experts say
SAN ANTONIO Its still too early to say definitively, but it appears children under the age of 10 dont transmit COVID-19 as easily as adults. I wish that we had substantial studies that absolutely told you one way or another. Local pediatricians weigh in on new CDC school guidelinesAs for middle school students, they appear to transmit it as much as adults, Svatek said. But if theyre practicing the appropriate measures, then they can be protected, she said. Svatek is part of the coalition that is working on creating a plan to reopen schools safely.
Health experts discourage large holiday gatherings, encourage rethinking summer vacations
SAN ANTONIO San Antonio health experts are encouraging residents to avoid large gatherings during the upcoming holiday and to rethink how they would want to spend their summer vacations. This concern comes after the increase of positive COVID-19 cases after Memorial Day weekend when the state was reopening. We started seeing people getting out, said Dr. Mandie Svatek with UT Health San Antonio. They were having large social gatherings. If we do the same we did for Memorial Day in which we had large group gatherings, we are going to continue to see an uprise in cases, Svatek said.