Even though children generally suffer only from mild symptoms after being infected by COVID-19, according to UNICEF, as of December 2021, over 12,000 children and adolescents under the age of 20, have died because of COVID-19 [1]. In spite of this, some parents are still hesitant to vaccinate their children. This raises multiple concerns.
Firstly, even though mild symptoms are prominent, children can be used as a vessel to transmit the virus* to older and more vulnerable members of society. Secondly, without vaccination, schools will not be able to reopen safely, which will consequently affect education. During the lockdowns of 2020, the education of approximately 168 million students globally, was drastically impaired [2]. To ensure that schools will open safely, children should be vaccinated, especially when there are other children with underlying health conditions – such as diabetes and asthma – which increases their risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms [3]. Lastly, children are still susceptible to the effects of “long COVID-19” [3] and multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) [4]. This disease is characterised by the inflammation of multiple organs – including the heart, lungs and brain. Although this condition is life-threatening, it is fortunately treatable [4].
One of the fears that many parents face about vaccinating their children, is that the vaccine may not be safe in children and might have long-term consequences. These concerns are understandable, but the current COVID-19 vaccines used in children have cleared many rounds of rigorous trials and review. For instance, one trial done using the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine in 2268 children, ages 5-11, found that the vaccine has an efficacy rate of 90.7%, and only caused minor side effects [5]. These side effects include: redness and swelling at the site of injection; fever and chills; and a sore arm [5,6]. The major long-term consequence parents are worried about is infertility. Albeit, there is currently no evidence that the vaccines can lead to infertility [7]. For more information on COVID-19 vaccinations and fertility, click here.
It is important to mention that there have been reports of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart) in teens after COVID-19 vaccinations. However, these reports are quite rare, with mild conditions, and resolved quickly after medical intervention [8].
Overall, the vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective in children and teens. Although evidence does show that the immune system of children tend to deal with the virus better than adults, the emergence of new variants such as Omicron, which is currently fueling a rise in hospitalisation rates in children in countries such as the U.S.A., suggests that this group is not invincible and should be vaccinated too [9].
The world must learn to live with COVID-19, and vaccinations still serve as our best weapon to combat the virus. Without vaccination, children’s lives will continue to be disrupted, and in turn, they could potentially disrupt the lives of those around them too.
*Virus - it can be considered a very small and basic life form or an aggregate of molecules that is simpler than a cell. They can be found in the environment or inside living organisms. It has to infect a cell and use its machinery to multiply, since it cannot multiply by itself. Viruses consist of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA), a protein capsid that contains the nucleic acids and, sometimes, an external envelope of lipids. The flu, measles, AIDS and Covid-19, for instance, are caused by viruses.
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Written by: Renard
Edited by: María and Natasha
BioDecoded is a volunteer group committed to sharing accurate scientific information. We cannot offer any specific health advice. If you have any doubts about getting vaccinated due to previous health conditions, please speak with your healthcare professional or family physician. Your doctor can revise your medical history and advise you on the best path to follow. If you have any questions about this topic, please comment or send them to our email.
References:
Child mortality and COVID-19 – UNICEF DATA (2022). Available at: https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-survival/covid-19/ (Accessed: 24 January 2022)
COVID-19 and School Closures: One year of education disruption – UNICEF DATA (2021). Available at: https://data.unicef.org/resources/one-year-of-covid-19-and-school-closures/ (Accessed: 24 January 2022)
Interim statement on COVID-19 vaccination for children and adolescents – CDC (2021). Available at: https://www.who.int/news/item/24-11-2021-interim-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-for-children-and-adolescents (Accessed: 24 January 2022)
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS) – CDC (2020). Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/mis/mis-c.html (Accessed: 24 January 2022)
Walter, E., et al. 2022. Evaluation of the BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine in Children 5 to 11 Years of Age. New England Journal of Medicine, 386(1), pp.35-46. Available at: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2116298#article_citing_articles
COVID-19 Vaccination – CDC (2020). Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/children-facts.html (Accessed: 24 January 2022)
Suran M. 2022. Why parent still hesitate to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. JAMA, 327 (1), pp. 23-25. Available at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2787289
COVID Vaccine: What Parents Need to Know – Johns Hopkins Medicine (2022). Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/covid19-vaccine-what-parents-need-to-know (Accessed: 24 January 2022)
The U.S. has hit a new record for the number of children hospitalised with COVID-19 – NPR (2022). Available at: https://www.npr.org/2022/01/11/1072183494/the-u-s-has-hit-a-new-record-for-the-number-of-children-hospitalized-with-covid- (Accessed: 24 January 2022)
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