CS000000-A | 06/14/21

Following the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization and the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation for use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in adolescents 

aged 12 through 15 years old, a special insights report was conducted using the same methods and inputs from 

the COVID-19 State of Vaccine Confidence Insights Reports. 

This report seeks to better understand the perceptions and sentiment of parents and adolescents regarding 

COVID-19 vaccination for adolescents 12 through 15 years old. The report details threats to COVID-19 vaccine 

confidence, content gaps and information voids, circulating mis- and disinformation, and action steps to take.

 

The information in this report is a snapshot from May 10, 2021 through May 28, 2021. 

Special COVID-19 State of Vaccine 

Confidence Insights Report

May 10-28, 2021 | Authorization & Recommendation of the Pfizer-BioNTech 

COVID-19 Vaccine for Adolescents Aged 12 through 15 Years

Vaccine Confidence Team, Insights Unit

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Contents

2 Background

3 Perceptions, Concerns, and Threats to Vaccine 

Confidence

5 Misinformation and Disinformation Themes

6 Content Gaps and Information Voids

8 Ways to Act

10 Appendix: Inputs and Sources

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 

COVID-19 Response, Vaccine Task Force

Vaccine Confidence and Demand Team, 

Insights Unit
Page: 2

Rapid COVID-19 State of Vaccine Confidence Insights Report 

May 10-28, 2021 | Authorization & Recommendation of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Adolescents Aged 12 through 15 Years 

Background

On May 10, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the PfizerBioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to include adolescents aged 12 through 15 years old, making nearly 85% of the U.S. population 

eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.1,2 The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has been authorized for people 16 years and 

older since December 11, 2020. Mentions of COVID-19 vaccines and adolescents by consumers on social media increased by 

47% during May 10–28, 2021, as compared to the 3 prior weeks. While there was not a standalone peak, the overall conversation 

related to COVID-19 vaccination and myocarditis among adolescents increased by 1,577% during the reporting period. The 

conversation about vaccination and myocarditis among adolescents peaked alongside news from Moderna about its clinical 

trials. 
Page: 3

Rapid COVID-19 State of Vaccine Confidence Insights Report 

May 10-28, 2021 | Authorization & Recommendation of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Adolescents Aged 12 through 15 Years 

Perceptions, Concerns, and Threats to Vaccine Confidence 

Many parents expressed excitement following FDA’s announcement and relief that vaccines would allow adolescents to get 

back to in-person schooling and prepandemic life safely.3,4,5,6 At the same time, other parents expressed the belief that COVID-19 

presents a negligible risk for youth and that the vaccines are “experimental” and “unethical” to give to adolescents.7,8,9 As of May 

28, 18% of adolescents aged 12–15 and 35% of adolescents aged 16–17 are at least partially vaccinated.10,11,12

Parent Intentions for Vaccinating Adolescents 

Parents’ intentions for vaccinating their adolescents generally match their own vaccination intentions, with unvaccinated 

parents largely hesitant to vaccinate their teens.13,14,15 As seen in the figure below, 55% of parents are hesitant about getting 

their adolescents vaccinated, would only get their adolescent vaccinated if required, or would refuse vaccination entirely.16 The 

number of hesitant and reluctant parents has decreased since March, as increased numbers of parents endorse vaccination.17

Further, recent polling data and surveys indicate younger moms and moms with less education and income are more reluctant 

to get their kids vaccinated against COVID-19.18,19,20,21

Concern about Short- and Long-Term Vaccine 

Effects 

Social media conversations and news reports indicated that some 

parents who are hesitant about COVID-19 vaccines are worried 

that vaccines might affect their adolescents’ hormones, puberty, or 

future fertility and whether the vaccine will have negative long-term 

effects.22,23,24,25 Parents are worried that in this period of transition 

between childhood and adulthood, the many physical, sexual, and 

cognitive changes within adolescence will somehow be stymied or 

driven off-course.26

Additionally, many parents reacted on social media and in the news 

media to several cases of myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination.

27,28,29,30,31,32,33 Parents had questions about the implications 

of the reports, particularly in terms of safety, what they should do if their adolescent had pre-existing cardiac conditions, and 

whether their adolescents should complete the two-dose vaccination series if they had already received the first dose.34,35,36

Source: https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/poll-finding/kff-covid-19-vaccine-monitor-may-2021/

"[I worry that] if I make the wrong 

decision, I’m going to be a bad mom. 

I don’t want either of my kids to turn 

around when they’re in adulthood and 

ask, ‘Why did you do this?.'" 

-Mother of adolescents, Houston, Texas 

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/12/parenting/

vaccine-children.html
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Rapid COVID-19 State of Vaccine Confidence Insights Report 

May 10-28, 2021 | Authorization & Recommendation of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Adolescents Aged 12 through 15 Years 

Perceptions, Concerns, and Threats to Vaccine Confidence 

When Parents and Adolescents Disagree on COVID-19 Vaccination

Nearly all states require some form of parental 

or guardian consent for vaccine providers to 

administer vaccines to adolescents, but state 

laws remain a patchwork of differing rules based 

on age, healthcare provider, and even pharmacy 

policy.37,38,39 High-traction news stories have 

profiled youth working together online to help 

those who are enthusiastic about vaccination, 

but whose parents are hesitant.40,41,42 Youth-led 

organizations have created websites about how 

to have empathic, direct vaccine discussions 

with parents in order to counter parental 

misinformation.43,44 Some parents expressed 

surprise and alarm in response to news coverage 

about adolescents getting vaccinated regardless 

of their parents’ preference,45,46 and some 

jurisdictions are aiming to block adolescents 

from seeking vaccination without parental 

permission, despite existing state law that 

does not require it.47,48 Pediatricians and family 

practitioners often find themselves on the front 

lines of such family debates,49,50 though some are 

vaccine hesitant themselves.51

School Policies and Incentives Have Uncertain Influences on COVID-19 Vaccination 

Behavior 

Multiple news media articles speculated about whether COVID-19 vaccines will be mandated for students in the fall,52,53,54 and 

some states and jurisdictions are preparing legislation to prevent schools and governments from requiring it.55,56 It remains 

unclear whether such state and jurisdiction policies regarding school vaccine requirements will influence the parents’ decision 

to vaccinate their adolescents, though 14% of parents say they will only get their children vaccinated if required by schools.57,58

To increase vaccine access and demand among 

adolescents and their parents, some school districts are 

deploying mobile teams to get their students vaccinated 

before summer vacation.59,60,61 Others are offering 

adolescents incentives for vaccination, including full 

college scholarships, free tickets to prom, and extra 

credit in class.62,63 In response to use of incentives, some 

parents on social media wondered why schools and 

governments are “bribing” adolescents in exchange for vaccination, questioned who was funding such large-scale promotions, 

and worried about the influence of scholarships on families with lower incomes.64,65,66 To date, the influence of such incentives 

on vaccination behavior are not well-understood —particularly in regard to parents who may distrust vaccine safety data, and 

for the adolescents themselves, who may or may not be able to get vaccinated without their parents’ permission.67

Ways to act:

 Partner with healthcare professionals, particularly pediatricians and family practitioners, to promote adolescent vaccination. 

 Engage adolescents in learning about the importance of COVID-19 vaccination.

 Support strategies to better understand adolescent intentions to vaccinate.

 Disseminate messages focused on the importance of vaccination as an important tool to end the pandemic. 

Source: https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/covid-19-vaccination-and-parental-consent/
Page: 5

Rapid COVID-19 State of Vaccine Confidence Insights Report 

May 10-28, 2021 | Authorization & Recommendation of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Adolescents Aged 12 through 15 Years 

Misinformation and Disinformation Themes themes

Mis- and disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines and children targeting parents, particularly those who want to “wait and 

see” before deciding to have themselves or their child vaccinated, has been spreading since clinical trials began enrollment 

in late 2020. Vocal vaccine deniers intensified their claims following FDA granting Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 Vaccine EUA 

for adolescents 12–15 years old. A large proportion of the mis- and disinformation related to adolescents is the same as the 

mis- and disinformation related to adults. It includes claims that EUAs are extensions of clinical trials, making the vaccines 

'experimental,’68,69 and that the vaccines are a form of gene therapy that can alter DNA.70 Below are the most central mis- and 

disinformation themes for adolescent COVID-19 vaccination:

1.The risk of an adverse event following COVID-19 vaccination is greater than the risk of severe illness or complication 

from COVID-19 and the benefits of vaccination have been overstated. Vocal vaccine deniers amplified multiple narratives 

simultaneously to further long-held beliefs by vaccine-hesitant parents and vocal vaccine deniers that the risk of COVID-19 is 

minimal for adolescents, while the risk of adverse events following vaccination is high. Several vocal vaccine deniers amplified 

an op-ed that claimed that the risk of severe illness and outcomes from COVID-19 is negligible for children71,72,73 and a 

commentary that claimed reported hospitalization rates were overestimated.74,75 They also misrepresented VAERS data, alleging 

almost 1,000 adverse events following vaccination among adolescents76,77,78 and manipulated clinical trial data claiming that 

vaccines reduced the risk of COVID-19 minimally, and were therefore also not the worth the risk.79

2. COVID-19 vaccination of adolescents is being done to sterilize a generation. Concerns about COVID-19 vaccines 

affecting fertility are long-standing.80,81 Vocal vaccine deniers have repackaged fertility-related misinformation to tap into 

parental concerns about the long-term effects of vaccination.82,83 Some vocal vaccine deniers even claimed that vaccination of 

adolescents was an attempt to sterilize them.84,85,86

3. CDC is allowing co-administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines without any safety data. Vocal vaccine 

deniers also raised concern over the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation to allow 

coadministration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines. Vaccine deniers claimed that the decision was made without the 

consideration of safety data, was “arbitrary,” and was only made to make vaccination more convenient.87,88

Ways to act:

 Address mis- and disinformation.

 Fill content gaps and information voids, particularly for parents.

 Disseminate messages focused on the importance of vaccination as an important tool to end the pandemic.
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Rapid COVID-19 State of Vaccine Confidence Insights Report 

May 10-28, 2021 | Authorization & Recommendation of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Adolescents Aged 12 through 15 Years 

Content Gaps and Information Voids

Content gaps and information voids emerged around the risk of COVID-19 to adolescents, short- and long-term side effects of 

COVID-19 vaccination, and the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for specific populations of adolescents. Questions from consumers 

emerged organically on social media and forum platforms in response to news coverage and federal government social media 

content, as well as through inquires to CDC-INFO. Following news coverage of several cases of myocarditis and health alerts 

issued by multiple jurisdictions, questions about the risks, symptoms, and causes of myocarditis after vaccination became 

dominant. The following lists the most frequently asked questions regarding adolescents and vaccination by theme.

Questions about the COVID-19 vaccine development and program 

 How long did clinical trials last, how many adolescents were included, and did they include adolescents with:

 Allergies

 Developmental disabilities, ADHD, depression, or anxiety

 Other co-morbidities, which parents believe may make their adolescent more vulnerable to COVID-19 

 What is the difference between a vaccine available through EUA and a licensed vaccine, and when will COVID-19 vaccines be 

fully licensed?

 Who can require or mandate COVID-19 vaccination, and is it possible to be exempt from vaccination requirements?

 Why are only adolescents 12 through 15 years old eligible for vaccination? When will children under 12 years old be eligible? 

Questions about COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness

 What adverse events were reported during clinical trials for adolescents?

 What are the side effects that adolescents are most likely to experience and are they different from side effects adults 

experience? 

 What allergic reactions could occur after vaccination, particularly among adolescents who have allergies?

 What long-term effects are possible? Have studies been done to assess long-term effects? 

 How effective is the vaccine for adolescents? Could one dose be enough to protect against COVID-19?

Questions about COVID-19 risk and mitigation

 What is the risk of COVID-19, including severe illness, for adolescents? 

 What role do adolescents play in community transmission and how they will help the United States reach population 

immunity by getting vaccinated?

 How do households with unvaccinated and vaccinated family members proceed regarding guidance for masking, physical 

distancing, and other mitigation measures?

Questions about vaccine administration

 What do I do if my child was administered a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine that was not authorized for their age, like Moderna 

COVID-19 Vaccine?

 Is it safe for my child to get a COVID-19 vaccine with an HPV vaccine?

 From adolescents: How can I get vaccinated without parental consent?

Questions about myocarditis or pericarditis following vaccination

 What is the rate of myocarditis following vaccination? How does this rate compare to the incidence of myocarditis among the 

general adolescent population?

 Why has vaccination of adolescents not been paused, given this side effect/potential adverse event?

 Are there special considerations for vaccination for adolescents who have pre-existing heart conditions?

 How serious is myocarditis and could it cause long-term heart damage?

 What are the symptoms of myocarditis? How can we tell if our adolescent may be having heart problems after vaccination?

 Should parents delay the 2nd vaccine dose if their adolescent has already received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine until more is 

known about the risk of myocarditis?

 Isn’t myocarditis a common complication of COVID-19?

 Did the adolescents with myocarditis after vaccination previously have COVID-19 or exposure to someone who did?

 Is myocarditis only a side effect with mRNA vaccines?

 How do I report a case of myocarditis after vaccination?

Ways to act:

 Fill content gaps and information voids, particularly for parents.
Page: 7

Rapid COVID-19 State of Vaccine Confidence Insights Report 

May 10-28, 2021 | Authorization & Recommendation of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Adolescents Aged 12 through 15 Years 

Ways to Act

Partner with healthcare professionals, particularly pediatricians and family practitioners. 

 Empower healthcare professionals, particularly pediatricians and family practitioners, to relay information about COVID-19 

vaccine effectiveness and vaccine safety to adolescents and their parents. Healthcare professionals should leverage every 

opportunity to talk with parents and adolescents about COVID-19 vaccination, including well visits, back-to-school visits, and 

sports physicals.

 Strengthen the capacity of pediatricians, family practitioners, and healthcare providers to have empathetic vaccine 

conversations with adolescents and their parents—with special attention to those families who might have differing opinions 

about the benefits of vaccination. 

 Provide guidance about how to communicate with adolescents and parents who are worried about or experiencing 

myocarditis or pericarditis after vaccination. 

 Provide guidance for healthcare professionals about communicating to adolescents and parents the importance of 

completing the two-dose vaccine series and the benefits of vaccination. 

 Partner with healthcare professionals to better understand perceptions and opinions about COVID-19 vaccinations for 

adolescents, particularly if providers are hesitant to administer COVID-19 vaccines or discuss the benefits of vaccines with 

families. 

Fill content gaps and information voids, particularly for parents. 

 Expand web content on COVID-19 vaccines for adolescents to include additional frequently asked questions and better 

explain the risk of COVID-19 to adolescents and the benefits of vaccination.

 Expand web content related to cases of myocarditis and pericarditis following COVID-19 vaccination to include information 

about signs and symptoms and when to seek medical care, as well as a better explanation of what myocarditis and pericarditis 

are, how serious they are, and what is known about who might be at increased risk for experiencing an event. 

 Expand and disseminate messaging about the side effects following vaccination, the need for two doses for best protection, 

and how to find a vaccine for adolescents.

 Disseminate messages about what an emergency use authorization is, how it works, and the difference between a fully 

licensed vaccine and a vaccine available under EUA.

 Develop content in a variety of styles, including easy-to-use graphics, videos, and social media content, to answer questions 

and fill information gaps. 

Engage adolescents in learning about the importance of COVID-19 vaccination.

 Provide clarity about vaccine consent laws for minors. Promote step-by-step guides about the logistics of COVID-19 

vaccination and state and local rules around parent involvement in vaccination. 

 Bolster adolescents’ capacity to have empathetic vaccine conversations with their friends and parents—including strategies 

for dispelling, debunking, and inoculating others against COVID-19 vaccine rumors and misinformation. 

 Promote ways for adolescents to share their stories about vaccination and amplify their decision to get vaccinated against 

COVID-19.

Address mis- and disinformation. 

 Develop and disseminate plain language talking points and suggested social media messages and unbranded assets for social 

media influencers and the COVID-19 Community Corps. 

 Partner with technology companies and notify them of key misinformation to flag or remove. Ensure technology companies 

promote resources with credible, evidence-based information about COVID-19 vaccines beyond resources from federal 

agencies and health departments. 

 Expand Myths and Facts web content to address new mis- and disinformation themes and update content regularly. 

 Amplify data to showcase the safety of co-administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines.

 Empower consumers to have effective, empathetic conversations about vaccines with family and friends online and offline.
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Rapid COVID-19 State of Vaccine Confidence Insights Report 

May 10-28, 2021 | Authorization & Recommendation of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Adolescents Aged 12 through 15 Years 

Ways to Act (cont.)

Support strategies to better understand adolescent intentions to vaccinate.

 Support surveys and polling data to better understand adolescents’ feelings and intentions toward COVID-19 vaccination. 

Use findings to develop resources for healthcare professionals, coaches, teachers, school administrators, and other trusted 

messengers to promote confidence in COVID-19 vaccines for adolescents. 

 Bolster research about how fellow students and friend groups influence the decision to vaccinate. Data indicate that 

peer decision making and norms may be important motivators and key sources of information regarding the benefits of 

vaccination for adolescents. Promote successful strategies widely. 

Disseminate messages focused on the importance of vaccination as an important tool to 

end the pandemic. 

 Disseminate messages about the role that adolescents and children play in transmitting the virus that causes COVID-19 and 

the role that their vaccination will play in the goal of reaching population immunity.

 Disseminate messages that the integrity and transparency of safety monitoring systems will be maintained. 

 Disseminate messages about how ACIP makes decisions and its role in safety monitoring and the U.S. vaccination system. 

 Coordinate messages across all federal agencies to ensure alignment and credibility. 

 Work with partners to identify trusted messengers and local influencers to amplify vaccination stories. 
Page: 9

Rapid COVID-19 State of Vaccine Confidence Insights Report 

May 10-28, 2021 | Authorization & Recommendation of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Adolescents Aged 12 through 15 Years 

Appendix: Inputs and Sources

Type Input Cadence Sources Tactics for Utilization

Social 

Media 

Listening 

& Media 

Monitoring

Meltwater Daily  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

 Blogs

News media

Online forums

 Share of voice topic analysis

 Emerging theme topics

Identify high reach/velocity topics

Crowd tangle Daily  Facebook

Instagram

 Sentiment analysis 

Identify information gaps/voids

Identify mis/disinformation

OADC Channel Comment 

Analysis

Daily Native platform searches  Sentiment analysis

Identify message gaps/voids

Direct 

Reports

CDC-INFO Metrics Weekly CDC-INFO inquiry line list

 Prepared response (PR) usage 

report

Cross-compare PR usage with inquiry 

theme analysis

 Sentiment analysis

Identify information gaps/voids

Research

Poll Review Weekly Harris Poll, PEW research, Gallup 

Poll, KFF 

New data related to vaccine 

hesitancy

Identify socio-behavior indicators related 

to motivation and intention to vaccinate 

Literature Review Weekly  PubMed, LitCovid, ProQuest Central 

New data related to vaccine 

hesitancy

Identify current vaccination intention

Identify barriers to vaccination

Third Party 

Reports

Tanaq Social Listening +Media 

Monitoring Report

Weekly  Meltwater

 Sprout Social

 First Draft

Native platform searches

 Trending topics

Demographic and geographic conversation 

monitoring

FEMA Social Listening Report Daily Hootsuite

 Brandwatch

CrowdTangle

 Meltwater

 Trends/sentiment analysis

National and global news analysis

First Draft News Vaccine 

Misinformation Insights 

Report

Monthly  Proprietary methods  Media trends analysis

 Emerging threats and data deficits

Online vaccine narratives

Project VCTR Weekly  Proprietary methods National and regional trends in negative 

attitudes toward vaccination

Conversations around Legislation

Virality Project Weekly  Proprietary methods  Mis- and disinformation trends related to 

COVID-19 vaccine