COVID is one of the leading causes of child death. I’m relieved my 1-year-old finally got her first vaccine dose

By Sonya Logman Harris

Published August 6, 2022 | Updated August 9. 2022

Published by San Francisco Chronicle

Recently, my 1-year-old received her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Ellie was a trooper, crying for only about 30 seconds after the nurse delivered the dose. She was bouncing around the house as soon as we got home.

I got my first dose while pregnant to protect Ellie and me, as the immunity I received transferred safely to her. I delivered a perfectly healthy baby, and Ellie had no reaction to the first dose she received.

Of course, my decisions to get us both vaccinated were made only after poring over data and consulting with my doctor.

As the senior adviser for the California Department of Public Health’s vaccine task force, I am inundated with coronavirus infection trends, surrounded by research and data day-in and day-out. I’ve learned that COVID-19 is one of the leading causes of child death.

During last winter’s omicron surge, COVID-19 hospitalizations for kids ages 4 and under were five times higher than when the delta variant was circulating earlier — and 1 in 5 kids hospitalized with the virus was admitted to the intensive care unit. My husband also works in health care, where he hears cases of patients in the ICU fighting for their lives.

These are all constant reminders of how COVID-19 continues to ravage families and why we need to continue to look out for one another.

Knowing these facts firsthand had made me anxious while pregnant and during Ellie’s infancy. As parents, we want to do everything we can to protect the proverbial lights of our lives. I felt helpless without a vaccine during Ellie’s delicate first year.

Read more at the San Francisco Chronicle and Korea Daily Times.

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