In Ireland, as of yet, only children aged 12 and up are eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine.
In the US, on the other hand, the Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for Pfizer's vaccine in the 5-11 age group last week, with vaccinations expected to begin as soon as this week.
However, coming closer to the vaccination of this younger group commencing, a
new survey has revealed that many parents are concerned about the vaccines affecting their children's future fertility.
The research released by the Kaiser Family Foundation last week, found that as many as 66 percent of parents of 5- to 11-year-olds worried that vaccines might negatively impact children's fertility later on.
But now, in a bid to calm their fears, doctors and public health officials are trying to assure parents
this is not a concern.
"Unfounded claims linking COVID-19 vaccines to infertility have been scientifically disproven," the American Academy of Pediatrics -- which represents doctors who specialize in treating children --
says in a statement on its website.
"There is no evidence that the vaccine can lead to loss of fertility. While fertility was not specifically studied in the clinical trials of the vaccine, no loss of fertility has been reported among trial participants or among the millions who have received the vaccines since their authorization, and no signs of infertility appeared in animal studies," it adds.
They have also denied rumours it affects puberty.
It is also worth mentioning that while last week, several members of FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee
voiced concerns about whether or not it is worthwhile vaccinating this entire age group at this time, no one raised any question about effects on fertility.
Dr Peter Marks, who heads the FDA's vaccine division, addressed the fear at a news conference on Friday.
"These vaccines have been evaluated in a variety of studies before they made it to the clinic and they've been now given to many, many millions of people," Marks explained.
"There's no evidence that there is an adverse effect on fertility of these vaccines, and there's no reason why one would suspect that an mRNA vaccine would have this.
