June 21st Four Seasons Pediatrics has received Pfizer Vaccine and you may now make appointments online through your web portal account. Please login to do so. If you do not have a portal account, please call us and we will give your login credentials.  If you forgot your password or username click “trouble logging in”.  To login, click here. 

Pros and Cons of the two vaccines:

Pfizer Pros:

• Higher efficacy – 80%
• Historically in young adults fewer side effects

Pfizer Cons:

• Not protected until 13 weeks after first dose
• 3 doses needed due to lack of significant protection in 2-4 year olds after 2^nd dose

Moderna Pros:

• Some protection evident after two doses
• Some protection present by 6 weeks after first dose

Moderna Cons:

• Lower efficacy after completion of series (37% in 2-5 yr olds and 51% in infants)
• In young adult males higher incidence of myocarditis – though none seen in this age group

As stated below, the providers of Four Seasons Pediatrics reviewed this and other data and we voted to carry the Pfizer Vaccine.  Either vaccine is acceptable however.  If you prefer to get the Moderna Vaccine, we do not administer it at this time.  We will continue to review our policy on this. 

June 19thThe CDC has endorsed the Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines after the FDA granted an EUA to ages not previously eligible (under 5 years of age).  PLEASE DO NOT CALL US, as we do not have the vaccine at this time.   Once in stock, we will ask you to make an appointment through your online web portal.  

What is the reaction of the Providers of Four Seasons Pediatrics?

The providers of Four Seasons Pediatrics have reviewed the available data and we all recommend the vaccine.  Either vaccine is acceptable.  After review of the data, our providers have unanimously decided that we would carry the Pfizer vaccine.  We weighed the efficacy and safety data and felt that this vaccine offers the best protection at this time.  We are always open to new research and data as this virus mutates.  We also understand that the Pfizer vaccine is a 3 dose series. 

Four Seasons Pediatrics has been preparing for this process, and placed an order for the vaccine in anticipation of these events.  We are currently working with our staff to determine how we can best offer the vaccine.  We will offer online appointments through your web portal.  We do not have the vaccine as of 6/20/22.  Once received, we will immediately offer the vaccine to those that have an appointment already scheduled and desire to get it.  If you are coming in or have a visit, visit this link for details on what forms to fill out before your visit.  We will also immunize siblings of those who have an appointment if you have the forms required in the link above.  This link is also available on our home page. 

We feel that vaccination of all children are an important part of safely returning to daycare, pre-school, school, camps, visits with relatives and to prevent the complications (although rare it has claimed about 442 children under the age of 5 years) to children.  Immunizing children reduces viral multiplication and therefore will delay mutations.  Mutations will continue to occur and force an updated vaccine (booster) at some point.  We have reviewed the efficacy and safety data and recommend this vaccine.  

What about long term side effects?

Although this is a new approval – the children studied have been carefully watched to determine if there were any differences in reactions compared to older children.  The reactions were similar and mild.  We remain more concerned about the long term side effects of COVID itself.   As seen in this link, 1257 children have died from COVID to date, and in this link, 8,773 children have been hospitalized with COVID to date.  As of October 2021, 5,217 children have had MIS-C, the most concerning long covid symptoms.  We definitely feel that it is much more desirable for children to get a vaccination of the outer surface proteins than to get the short and long term effects associated with getting full COVID infection. 

Pfizer Dosing:

If your child is turning 5 during any dose in the series – you may choose either the lower dose you started, or move to the dose for ages 5-11 years old.  Dosing for the 6 months to 4 years age group is as follows:

Dose 2 – given 3 weeks after dose 1

Dose 3 – given 8 weeks after dose 2