COVID-19 Vaccines For Children
COVID-19 Vaccines For Children
Vaccines have significantly reduced many childhood infectious diseases, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Vaccines to prevent infectious diseases are given to millions of babies, children, adolescents, and adults, and they must be demonstrated to be safe and effective. These vaccines protect infants, young children, and adolescents from 16 diseases.
The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines save two to three million lives each year. In a paper recently published by the Oxford Vaccine Group, they present a new global dataset that looks at childhood vaccination policies across the world.
COVID-19 Vaccines For Children News
July 21, 2021 - The NEJM published a CORRESPONDENCE: Household Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from Children and Adolescents. This retrospective study showed that the efficient transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from school-age children and adolescents to household members led to the hospitalization of adults with secondary cases of Covid-19. In addition, in households in which transmission occurred, half the household contacts were infected.
July 21, 2021 - How readily does COVID-19 spread on school buses? Universal testing and contact tracing revealed no transmission linked to bus transportation. 'As members of the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics School Re-Opening Task Force, we recognize that schools are under pressure to make data-driven operational decisions. We hope the model we describe and our data can be of assistance in demonstrating that school buses can safely operate at normal capacity even at high community COVID-19 caseloads.”
July 17, 2021 - The Telegraph reported the UK has decided against mass COVID-19 vaccinations for all children and will focus on at-risk people.
July 15, 2021 - The AP reported Dr. Marco Cavaleri, the EMA's head of vaccines strategy, said its expert committee was currently evaluating Moderna''s application to extend the use of its coronavirus vaccine for children 12 to 17 years old. “We expect that the committee will conclude by the end of next week,” he said.
July 15, 2021 - Tennessee local media reported, 'The Tennessee Department of Health will halt COVID-19 adolescent vaccine outreach.' An internal memo had been sent outlining how children can legally receive the vaccine without parental consent.
July 6, 2021 - The U.S. CDC confirmed the VAERS reported 1,226 cases of myocarditis after mRNA vaccination was received from December 29, 2020, - June 11, 2021. Among persons with reported myocarditis after mRNA vaccination, the median age was 26 years, mostly young men, with a median symptom onset interval of 3 days after vaccination.
July 5, 2021 - Charting mandatory childhood vaccination policies worldwide.
July 1, 2021 - The Association of American Medical Colleges stated, 'As scientists test vaccines in young children, evidence continues to emerge about how the disease harms kids, how expanded immunizations of others might protect them, and what impact a vaccine might have.'
June 28, 2021 - The Lancet published a study that found the 'CoronaVac vaccine was well tolerated and safe and induced humoral responses in children and adolescents aged 3–17 years. Neutralizing antibody titers induced by the 3·0 μg dose were higher than those of the 1·5 μg dose. The results support the use of 3·0 μg dose with a two-immunization schedule for further studies in children and adolescents.'
June 28, 2021 - “Among those hospitalized, 11% were <30 years and 60% were ≥60 years,” Chau Nguyen MS, CIC, FAPIC Epidemiologist, Infection Control and Prevention Spectrum Health System, the lead investigator, reported. In terms of inpatient mortality rate, “for patients <30 years was 0% versus 13% for patients ≥60 years (p-value <0.001).”
June 11, 2021 - Which countries have mandatory childhood vaccination policies?
June 10, 2021 - Germany’s vaccine advisory committee recommended that only adolescents with pre-existing conditions be given the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
June 10, 2021 - The U.S. CDC reported over 200 cases of myocarditis and pericarditis among 16-to-17-year-olds after receiving an mRNA vaccination.
June 10, 2021 - The U.S. FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research is conducting a virtual meeting of the 15 voting members of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. During the meeting, the FDA provided a status update on its risk-benefit approach to issuing emergency use authorization (EUA) for experimental COVID-19 vaccines intended for use in individuals and the data needed to support a EUA and a biologics license application for a COVID-19 vaccine intended for use in children older than six months of age.
June 9, 2021 - A new analysis showed a sustained decrease in immunization rates among teens throughout the pandemic in 2020. This includes 8.8 million missed adolescent vaccine doses.
May 25, 2021 - Moderna, Inc. announced that the Phase 2/3 study of its COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents had met its primary immunogenicity endpoint, successfully bridging immune responses to the adult vaccination.
May 10, 2021 - Adolescents ages 12–17 are eligible to receive the experimental Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and may be vaccinated with appropriate assent. Sites administering COVID-19 vaccines should follow current state/jurisdictional policies and practices in place for other routine immunizations in this age group.
May 6, 2021 - Novavax COVID-19 vaccine Phase 3 study: A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Immune Response, and Safety of a COVID-19 Vaccine in Adults ≥ 18 Years With a Pediatric Expansion in Adolescents (12-17 Years) at Risk for SARS-CoV-2.
March 24, 2021 - The Lancet published a study that concluded: 'Our evidence indicates that children continue to be mostly, but not completely, spared the worst outcome of the pandemic, particularly compared with older adults who have been much harder hit. However, we continue to caution that the virus is likely to change over time and that these conclusions should be kept under review.'
