It is difficult to accept that even children in their teens can be vaccinated in time for the upcoming school year.
The main obstacle is that the COVID-19 vaccine producers are in the early stages of testing their vaccines on kids. On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration gave official permission to the Pfizer vaccine to use on people ages 19 or above. Moderna began testing the vaccine for 12-17 years olds, it is expected to be authorized soon.
Why COVID Vaccine Trials on Kids Should Begin?
It may take months to approve the use of COVID-19 vaccines for middle and high school students and can take more months to test vaccines in younger children.
This year, several clinical trials were conducted on the vaccine's safety and effects in adults but more research is required to conduct additional tests on how the vaccine affects children. The study should observe the dosages, examine the interval of doses, and also record the number of doses that will work best in kids.
As stated by pediatric infectious disease experts the process may many months for trials. Children may not see the vaccine until the summer or fall of 2021. Around 1 million children are infected with Coronavirus in the United States. Pushing back clinical trials on children may affect the overall health and development.
'Only protecting adults doesn't make sense as a public-health intervention.' says Grace Lee, a Stanford University professor of pediatrics.
Many pediatricians say it is essential to start vaccination of children to fight against the Coronavirus, said James Campbell, professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health. Campell and other colleagues stated that it is a matter of urgency to begin the vaccine trial in children when others want to postpone those tests till millions of adults are safely vaccinated.
Risks If COVID Vaccine Trials on Kids Won't BeginWhat are the risks we face if COVID vaccine trials on kids won't begin? Two risks may occur if vaccine inventors won't start testing their vaccines on kids. One is the degree of harm Coronavirus causes to kids, and another one is the virus can spread to their friends, parents, and teachers, and grandparents.
It is better if these slow actions to prevent children from Covid-19 can lead vulnerable adults to experience suffering and death. It is a serious concern to take necessary medical efforts for childhood disease because it caused 154 deaths and more than 7,500 children are hospitalized till December 3 that involve people of age 19 and younger in the USA. This statistics is more than a year of influenza and more critical than other diseases such as mumps or hepatitis B in children before the vaccination period.
Studies show that 1% to 2% of kids infected with the Coronavirus and require emergency treatment, Dr. Stanley Plotkin, professor emeritus of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, stated to a federal panel. He pointed out that when people suffered from infections like Haemophilus influenzae type B, or Hib, physicians began the vaccination tests on kids in the 1980s.
"The longer we take to start kids in trials, the longer it will take them to get vaccinated and to break the chains of transmission," stated Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a professor of pediatrics at Stanford University who chairs the AAP's infectious disease committee. He further added, "If you want kids to go back to school and not have the teachers union terrified, you have to make sure they aren't a risk."
Dr. Evan Anderson, a pediatrics professor at Emory University said, "Our younger children are almost certainly going into next school year without a vaccine option available for them."
Meanwhile, teachers are at the top of the list for vaccination.
"We don't want to use children to protect everyone in the community," stated Campbell.
"It's a huge burden on a child to have their entire world flipped around," stated Campbell. "If vaccinating could help to flip it back, we should begin testing to see if that's possible."
Elmira is a full-time health writer at CompleteHealthNews.com where she educates and advises on how to lead a healthy life from eating to getting into fitness. She completed her master's degree at Columbia University. Her blogs are evidence-based, not opinionated. Her articles are based on a diabetes diet, weight loss, fitness, skincare, and mental health. She believes in healthy eating and also encourages her readers to lead healthier, more balanced lives. She devotes time to implement a healthy lifestyle every day.
