This is Only a Test

I read an article today about testing being done on children for the COVID vaccine.  A portion of that article follows:

Around 100 incredible kids have been doing some really important work (after school, of course!) at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital to help experts determine whether the Pfizer vaccine will be safe for kids. They deserve a round of applause. The trials for the Pfizer vaccine — which does not contain any active virus and thus cannot transmit COVID-19 — began testing on adults earlier this year before opening up the trials to kids, following safety guidelines.

The entire article can be found here:  https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/parenting/meet-the-kid-heroes-taking-part-in-the-pfizer-covid-vaccine-trial/ar-BB1b6mis?li=BBnba9O

I am, shall we say, way out of my swim lane taking on this topic, but when in the name of all that is right did we begin using children as Guinea pigs for vaccine testing?  To my knowledge, there are several organizations that are quite vocal about denouncing testing on animals: 

• The Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing. …
• American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) …
• Americans for Medical Progress. …
• National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) …
• People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

Are we to assume that animals have somehow been elevated above children and that their welfare is somehow perceived more important?  I am stunned both that using twelve year olds has been enacted AND that the parents of these minors have signed off on their children being used for this purpose.

It should be noted, ’Cincinnati Children’s Hospital has expanded its Pfizer clinical trial to include 12-year-olds to 15-year-olds.” So it is Pfizer that is using these children in its study.

The Covid vaccine race between Pfizer and Moderna has taken a turn for the worse in my opinion.  What are your thoughts on this?  Should children be used to test this vaccine or should the testing be limited to adult volunteers only?  Let me know what you think.

R-O-A-R!!!

References:  Isabella Bridie DeLeo, November 17, 2020; Meet The Kid Heroes Taking Part in The Pfizer COVID Vaccine Trial, retrieved on the world wide web from https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/parenting/meet-the-kid-heroes-taking-part-in-the-pfizer-covid-vaccine-trial/ar-BB1b6mis?li=BBnba9O

Dan Griffen, WLWT5, October 22, 2020, retrieved from the world wide web on November 17, 2020 from https://www.wlwt.com/article/cincinnati-childrens-hospital-enrolls-youngest-covid-19-vaccine-trial-participants-yet/34455453