Vaccinations against COVID-19 in children 12+. Six important questions [EXPLAINED]

Teenagers over 19 years of age can register for COVID-16 vaccinations. On June 7, they will be joined by children aged 12+. – Vaccinating children from 12 years of age should be one of the priorities in the fight against COVID-19 – emphasizes Dr. Sutkowski. Why? What vaccine will be used? Is it safe for children? What if my child has been infected with the coronavirus? Are there any contraindications to immunizing a teenager? We present answers to the most important questions.

1. On May 28, the European Commission approved the use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 12+
2. The Medical Council at the premiere clearly supported the vaccination of adolescents of this age against COVID-19
3. Vaccinations of adolescents aged 12-15 years old will start on June 7, possible vaccination in schools from September
4. According to Dr.Michał Sutkowski, vaccinating children from the age of 12 should be one of the priorities in the fight against COVID-19
5. What specific COVID-19 vaccine will children receive? What are the side effects? Are there any contraindications for vaccination – the answers to these and other questions can be found in the text
6. More information can be found on the Onet homepage.

Why is it important to vaccinate children against COVID-19? The doctor explains

In mid-May, registration for vaccinations against COVID-19 began in adolescents aged 16-17 (The parent will find the e-referral on their child’s Internet Patient Account). On June 7, the younger age group will also join this group. On May 28, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the application to extend the use of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19 to children aged 12 to 15 years. The Medical Council at the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland also unequivocally supported the vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in children at this age.

In the opinion of the president of Warsaw Family Physicians, Dr. Michał Sutkowski, vaccinating this group should be a priority or at least one of the priorities in the fight against COVID-19. Why?

First, children rarely get COVID-19, but they do. It can also end badly for the child, with complications, with problems – emphasized the expert, paying special attention to PIMS, a multi-system inflammatory syndrome that occurs in children as a result of coronavirus infection (also asymptomatic). It can lead to very serious complications (including circulatory disorders, drops in blood pressure, kidney dysfunction, edema, headache and dizziness, exacerbation of epileptic symptoms, convulsions and even micro-embolisms in the brain). Dr. Sutkowski reminds that so far several hundred children with PIMS or with PIMS have been hospitalized in Poland. The doctor notes that sometimes these are dramatic cases, there are deaths.

Another important reason that should encourage children to vaccinate children, according to Michał Sutkowski, is the fact that they transmit the virus to older people – their parents or grandparents, who are even more exposed to COVID-19 and complications. In his opinion, this transmissibility is high, because children are usually active. The specialist emphasizes that if we vaccinate children, there will be a greater chance that we will achieve population resistance to COVID-19 in Poland. The doctor reminds that it is crucial to vaccinate as many people as possible as soon as possible and thus reduce the risk of new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Extending the vaccination against COVID-19 to children 12+ certainly raises questions for parents or guardians. Here are the answers to the six most important ones.

Vaccinating children 12+. What COVID-19 vaccine will my child get?

The decision of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Commission to extend vaccination against COVID-19 to children aged 12-15 years only concerned the use of BioNTech / Pfizer – Comirnata. It is currently the only vaccine approved for use in the 12+ age group.

The EMA said the recommended use of Comirnata against SARS-CoV-2 in children 12-15 years of age will be the same as in adolescents 16+ years of age. The preparation is to be administered identically – i.e. in the form of two injections, at least three weeks apart.

Vaccinating children 12+. Adolescent COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness and Safety

The study showed that the immune response to Comirnats in adolescents 12+ was comparable to that in the 16-25 year age group (as measured by anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels). The effectiveness of the BioNTech / Pfizer vaccine was calculated in nearly 2. children 12 to 15 years of age who had no signs of previous infection.

These people received a vaccine or a placebo (sham injection). Of the 1 children who received the COVID-005 vaccine, none developed the coronavirus. Of the 978 children given the placebo, 16 fell ill. This means that 100% of the children in this study were vaccinated. effective in preventing COVID-19 (although the actual rate could have been between 75% and 100%).

It is also worth noting that a sufficient number of adolescents participated in clinical trials to show that the vaccine is safe for adolescents 12+. “We have no reason to expect children to tolerate the vaccine less favorably than adults” – notes the CHOC foundation associated with the University of California (committed to providing the highest quality medical care for children).

Vaccinating children 12+. Are there children / teens who should not be vaccinated against COVID-19?

There is no group among children or adolescents who should not be immunized. The exception is an allergy to one of the components of the vaccine. As CHOC points out, teens with other types of allergies may feel safe in having the vaccine.

1. «Allergy sufferers should not be afraid to vaccinate». The doctor explains why and what to remember

Adolescents who have recently received other vaccinations should wait two weeks before taking COVID-19 preparation.

Vaccinating children 12+. My child already had COVID-19. Should he be vaccinated?

The best answer to this question is a quote from the CHOC Foundation: «Yes. We do not know how long immunity lasts due to COVID-19 infection, and the vaccine aims to generate a longer lasting immune response ».

Vaccinating children 12+. Side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine on a child?

The most common side effects in children aged 12-15 are similar to those in people aged 16 and over. These include injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills and fever. These effects are usually mild to moderate and disappear within a few days of vaccination.

At this point, let us recall the position of the EMA. The Agency decided that Comirnata’s benefits in adolescents 12+ are greater than its risks. The EMA also emphasizes that due to the limited number of children included in the study, rare side effects could not be detected.

Vaccinating children 12+. Need to worry about the vaccinated child being with younger siblings who are not vaccinated?

The CHOC Foundation emphasizes that there is no need to worry. These children have interacted with each other before in the same household. “The family can rejoice in knowing that one more person in the household has been vaccinated, offering better protection to others.”

Finally, we remind you to consult your pediatrician if you have any questions or doubts.

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