Covid Vaccination for children – Facts and Myths
Here’s what’s happened so far around the globe
In May of 2021, European Medical Agency also known as EMA approved the Pfizer vaccines for children between the ages 15 to 18. Similarly, US and Canadian regulators too approved of the Pfizer vaccine for kids under the same age bracket. This was soon followed by several other countries like Denmark (12-15yr olds), Spain(12-19 yrs olds), France(12-17 yr olds), Germany(12-15 yr old), Sweden, and Norway to name a few.
The latest report from the Centre for Disease Control said that the number of children hospitalized with Covid was between 3.4 to 3.7 times higher in states with the lowest vaccination coverage.
In June, China began a vaccination drive for children as young as 3 years produced by the drug company named Sinovac. Many school boards in the US, China, and many other countries have made it mandatory for children to be jabbed to attend school.
Developments back home
On the 3rd of Jan, India started its ginormous process of vaccination for children between the ages of 15-18. India is thought to have the largest adolescent population in the world, which is estimated to be about 253 million.
Sole Vaccine for children in India
The Union Health Ministry has announced that Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin will be the only vaccine that will be administered to this particular age group. Children can book their slots through the Cowin app using their parents’ login details. All children irrespective of their income can get vaccinated for free at government vaccination centres. Many centres are offering walk-in facilities. The dosage is 0.5 ml in the gap of 28 days.
Comparing the immune response between children and adults, children developed antibodies more than adults, on an average 1.7 times more neutralizing antibodies than adults. No myocarditis or blood clots were reported.
Busting some common myths regarding vaccination in Children
MYTH: The COVID-19 vaccine for children is not safe.
Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin was approved for usage in children by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) after the former submitted results of Phase-III clinical trials on children aged 2-18 years. Also, The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) recommended its usage on children. The COVID-19 vaccine for children is safe and effective. It has undergone rigorous review and now has been authorized after thorough testing for safety in thousands of children. In clinical trials. The vaccine side effects were mild and similar to those seen in adults and with other vaccines recommended for children. The most common side effect was a sore arm.
MYTH: Because children are not seriously harmed by COVID-19, getting vaccinated is not worth the risk.
The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination for children ages 5 through 11 years outweigh the known and potential risks. Vaccination can prove to be a great tool against future variants and infections.
MYTH: It is safer for my child to build immunity by getting infected with COVID-19 than to build immunity by getting the vaccine.
FACT: While natural immunity has also shown promising results vaccination can reduce complications and be a great additive to strengthen immunity. Getting children ages 5 years and older vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best way to protect them from COVID-19.
Where do I get more info?
You can check with the helpline numbers set up by the government or even speak to us at Care For Your Child to know what’s best for your child when it comes to COVID-19 or any other emergency situation.