Do we need to vaccinate every child against COVID-19?

REASONS TO CHOOSE VACCINATION

Three reasons why all children need to be vaccinated against COVID-19. First one is herd immunity can only be reached in India after vaccinating all the children since less than half (45%) of Indian population were children and young adults.^[2] The second reason is, in the present strain of COVID virus, children affected were very less in number, this could be due to less number of ACE inhibitor in pediatric population and also very less affinity of SARS-COV-2 towards ACE receptors. Now, all the age groups were getting vaccinated except the children. So the virus will get mutated and the new strain of virus with repeated mutation can attack even very less ACE inhibitor with more affinity. The third reason is since it is a novel virus so it finds some or the other way to infect all age groups, so it is better to go for vaccination rather than to get infected. Getting vaccination will also allow children to start doing things that they might not have been able to do due to the pandemic, including not wearing a mask or social distancing in any setting except where required by a rule or law.^[3,4]

REASONS FOR NOT VACCINATING CHILDREN AGAINST COVID

The reason for not vaccinating children against COVID is they get relatively little benefit from it. One of the few good things about this pandemic is children are very rarely seriously affected by this infection. It is estimated that fewer than two out of every million children died with COVID during the pandemic. Only those at very high risk of exposure and serious outcomes which could include older children with severe disabilities in residential care are recommended to be vaccinated.

RISK VERSUS BENEFIT

Now vaccines have been determined to be safe for adults, and they are being studied in children. The World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) had said that the Pfizer/BionTech vaccine is suitable for use by people aged 12 years and above. Children aged between 12 and 15 who are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 may be offered this vaccine alongside other priority groups for vaccination. Benefits of vaccination are more than the risk to the children.

BENEFITS FROM VACCINATING CHILDREN

The approach of vaccinating children is already used for diseases such as flu in the United Kingdom. This activity was done to protect their grandparents each year. The same came to be done for COVID vaccines that could help contribute to herd immunity.

SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF COVID VACCINATION

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorization for children ages 12 through 15. The FDA first gave this vaccine emergency use authorization for people aged 16 and older in late 2020. Research has shown that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is 100% effective in preventing the COVID-19 virus in children ages 12 through 15. The effectiveness of vaccine is determined by a study in US where half of the children in the study group were given Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and the other half were given placebo.

After the second dose, no cases of COVID-19 were reported in the study group and in the control group, there were cases reported.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF COVID VACCINATION

The side effects which children experienced were pain where the shot was given, fatigue, headache, chills, muscle pain, fever, and joint pain. The symptoms were similar to the adults and adolescent age group.

SHORT-TERM COMPLICATIONS AFTER VACCINATION

There were cases reported on myocarditis and pericarditis after COVID vaccination among children. The studies are going on to investigate whether there is any relationship to COVID-19 vaccination. The symptoms due to myocarditis and pericarditis resolved after receiving medication and rest. Some of the symptoms to watch and needs intervention after vaccination includes chest pain, shortness of breath, feeling of fast breathing, and fluttering or pounding heart.

LONG-TERM COMPLICATIONS AFTER VACCINATION

Since COVID-19 vaccine trial started in the middle of 2020. It is not yet clear if the vaccines will have long-term effects. However, vaccines rarely cause long-term effects.

CONCLUSION

It is better to go for vaccination than infected.