Vaccinate students in anticipation of returning to class; vaccinate children, even the youngest ones; vaccinate everyone to prevent the Delta variant from making its way through the school desks. But this opens up some questions. How effective can vaccines be on adolescents and children? And can they be done without taking risks? While most of the times there is no resistance on the part of those directly involved to the idea of resorting to the injection, this is often not the case for parents, who fear effects, even in the long term. He confirms it Fabrizio Pregliasco, virologist, health director of the Galeazzi Orthopedic Institute of Milan, researcher in general hygiene and professor at the University of Milan.
Covid vaccine from 12 years old? The doubts of the parents and the answers of the pediatrician
by Elena Bozzola
“It is essential to carry out vaccination coverage even for the little ones – explains Pregliasco – because they too are involved in the contagion chain and, as they are vaccinated, they can, becoming older, already be covered by the attack of the virus. in fact, the greatest risk is later, from the age of 12. In this way, by involving children and adolescents in the vaccination campaign, we will be able to obtain herd immunity “.
I study
The possibility of administering the Covid vaccine to children is a source of debate within the scientific community. The demonstration that Covid is less dangerous for young people was fundamental, and therefore the risk-benefit ratio related to vaccination is different from that existing for adults. One of the most comprehensive studies on the effects of Covid in children under 18 was published in the journal in early July Public Health England. The results indicate that in one year, in England, 6 thousand children and adolescents were hospitalized for the infection. Among them the victims were 25. There is therefore talk of a mortality rate of just two in a million. It is also for this reason that children under 18 are not vaccinated in the UK unless their health conditions put them at a higher risk of complications.
Vaccines under study
Pregliasco, however, thinks that proof has been superseded by one factor: the Delta variant. Which makes infections very fast and attacks especially the youngest. “It is precisely on children that mRna vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) are being studied – explains the professor – clinical trials are also underway on children. This is happening in various countries: the United States, Canada and also in Italy. What do they tell us? Preliminary studies explain to us that the results, to date, are comparable with those of adults. While safety checks are being carried out “.
What other countries do
But what are other countries doing about it? In Norway and Portugal, for example, minors are completely excluded from the vaccination campaign. Italy, just like Israel and the United States, has chosen to administer vaccines from the age of 12, favoring those with mRna. Pfizer is well tolerated in the 12 to 16 age group and is 100% effective in preventing Covid-19. Moderna is equally effective between the ages of 12 and 18 and does not cause serious adverse reactions. Pharmaceutical companies are also testing their vaccines in the age group between 2 and 11 years: the authorization should arrive by September, at least in the United States.
“They must be vaccinated”
But, in fact, the Delta variant has arrived to shuffle the cards. “It has a greater diffusion capacity in young people and makes it easier for them to be contagious – underlines Pregliasco -. Also because most of the children do not get sick. If we then add that, with the return to school, they can stay together for a long time. , for the virus it is an exceptional viaticum “. Therefore, the virologist reiterates “it is absolutely necessary to vaccinate children”, and “not so much for the personal risk, but for the opportunity that vaccination gives with respect to the ability of young people to be spreaders of the disease, which can itself be a certain danger. “. But the reasons for immunizing kids don’t end there. “It serves to avoid hospitalizations and the consequences that the disease produces after some time, because 15% incur long Covid. And then again it serves to avoid interrupting school attendance, such as social contacts, and infecting elderly relatives , as well as infecting schoolmates “.
From what age can you be vaccinated?
The doubt that seizes all parents of children and teenagers is this: “Can I trust? Isn’t it that the vaccine can hurt my little son? Or bring effects even after some time?”. So, from what age can a child be vaccinated? “I would say from 6 months upwards, on average at 2 years it should be done – replies Pregliasco -. Experiments are underway that will confirm this, but to put the virus in check it is necessary to achieve something similar to the so-called herd immunity, and from 12 years onwards we do not reach it. With the increase in contagion (80%) brought about by the Delta variant, it is necessary to immunize as children. A strategy that in the future can be reserved as an anti-flu to be implemented for the most fragile “.
But is it now possible to vaccinate the little ones? “It should be done, but it is not. Just think that, from the age of 12 onwards, what is allowed, if young people want to get vaccinated, it is the parents who are afraid. Why? They are afraid of side effects, even for the future. Someone even. fears a reduction in the fertility of their child. Therefore they prefer to wait. ” This being the case, Pregliasco expects a “somewhat complicated” beginning of the school year. Translated into practical terms: “Maybe a declared opening and then many outbreaks that can block distance learning”. “We await the outcome of the studies – he concludes – and we hope that the results will support the thesis that we can start vaccinating as early as 2 years old”.
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