Suppose we overlook the families who have lost their loved ones; the children have suffered the most due to the COVID 19 pandemic in India. It might be the student studying in primary or higher education or the students looking forward to giving direction to their lives by selecting an academic goal. It’s been two years; the schools are closed, and since then, hardly any student must have received any proper class if we think that children are learning online.
Nevertheless, it is difficult for a teacher to mimic classroom teaching online and challenge students to stay connected (network issue and other factors). What is the solution, whether the education system needs to be changed or look for other alternatives? Because the virus is mutating best of its capacity, we don’t have a perfect formula to predict the eradication of COVID 19; thus, we all know it will last long. As per the experts, prolonged school closures are very disruptive for children and their families and cause high social, health, and economic impacts.
At the movement, we can only think of boosting our immune systems and vaccinate our children just like the government is driving adults to take the vaccine and be free to work with some precautions. Similarly, children will be able to go to school and learn in the comfort of school, socialize with their friends. But again, all the parents are concerned about whether available vaccines are adequate or any side effects on their child or if safe, then which vaccine they should choose?
Countries leading in children’s vaccination drive
A handful of countries leading in vaccination drive have already started vaccinating adolescents above 12 years.
In Jakarta, on July 1, Indonesia’s Health Ministry launched mass vaccination for children of 12 to 17 years old and prophesying to target 1.3 million children. The Sinovac vaccine is used to vaccinate for the age group of 12 to 17, and emergency use approval was granted by the National Agency of Drug and Food Control of the country.
The European countries like Denmark planning to administer vaccines for children aged 12-15; thereby, Austria aims to vaccinate 340,000 children in early adolescence, and even France have started vaccinating 12 years and older children with parents consent. Whereas Hungary vaccinating 16 to 18 years old children since Mid-May and on May 31, Italy approved Pfizer’s for 12-15-year-olds. Similarly, other countries like Spain, Lithuanian’s Estonia, Germany have started vaccinating by mid-June or are about to begin vaccinating before the commencement of the academic year in September.
COVID-19 vaccines safe for children
According to WHO, vaccines are usually tested in adults as children are still developing and growing (every child has a unique development stage). Since vaccines are safe for adults, the studies for children are in progress, whereas, before children, priority should be the community at higher risk across the globe. Moreover, WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) declared that Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine (mRNA vaccine) is safe for the age group above 12 and can inject into children (12 to 15) at higher risk of COVID-19. Cases of heart inflammation (myocarditis and pericarditis) were reported in Israel & the US adults vaccinated with Pfizer; however, the connection is unclear. The paediatrician David Pace at the University of Malta in Msida stated that the possibility is extremely low as 67 and 9 cases per million-second doses in males and females, respectively.
As per the Technical report in European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2021, on May 28 2021, Comirnaty was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for use in
12 years or older children and even the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave emergency use Authorization in 12-15-year-old children. Comirnaty showed 100% (95% CI, 75.3-100%) efficacy in one randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II/III clinical trial with 2200 volunteers between 12 to 15 years.
As per the studies published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal on Clinical trials of CoronaVac in phase 1/2, it induced humoral immunity in children aged 3-17 years and was tolerated and safe. Neutralizing capacity was higher after two doses of 3.0 μg than 1.5 μg dose. Moreover, the vaccine is approved by WHO under emergency use listing.
According to Prasar Bharti, published in Times of India on June 2, For Covaxin All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Patna, undertaking clinical trials on 2 to 18 old children.
In Short numerous vaccines are under trial, and some have received approval from various concern agencies (like WHO). Consider the threat of the third wave likely to affect the children (non-vaccinated group); the government must step ahead to start with the adolescent vaccination. Since the DNA based Zyndus Cadila’s have successfully concluded its clinical trial and Covaxin in the last phase of the trial, it is speculated that the vaccines for the adolescents will be available by September 2021.
Reference
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Vaccines | WHO.int
Chinese COVID vaccine found safe, effective in children, adolescents: Lancet study | Livemint
Covid vaccines for children: Here are the possible options – Coronavirus outbreak News | India today
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. (2021). Interim public health considerations for COVID-19 vaccination of adolescents in the EU / EEA Key messages Current status and national recommendations concerning vaccination of adolescents in the EU / EEA. June.
Indonesia kicks off COVID-19 vaccination for adolescents aged 12 to 17 – Xinhua | English.news.cn