New data shows that a single dose of Pfizer's vaccine can help older children against infections, and shortens the severity of symptoms if they do get infections.
According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, 2- to 11-year-olds have the highest rate of infections of any age group, with 4.2% testing positive during the week ending 5 March. Secondary-aged children have the lowest rate of infections, with 2.4% testing positive.
On February 16th, the UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation approved the vaccine of healthy 5- to 11-year-olds. Sajid Javid said the vaccine offer would be extended to all children in April to increase protection against future waves of Covid-19.
A new wave is fast approaching and with only a quarter of children having received a second dose of vaccine, scientists are worried.
The lack of urgentness and the lack of complacency is what I don't understand.
The risk of Covid to children is small, but it is magnified when the virus is so prevalent. According to the US Centres for Disease Control, unvaccinated 5- to 11-year-olds were three times more likely to be admitted to hospital in January compared to those who had received two vaccine doses.
Russell Viner, a professor of child and adolescent health at University College London, said that there were pragmatic and technical challenges associated with the mass vaccination of younger children.
The medical arguments are marginal for children, but once the decision has been made that the vaccine is safe, has some effectiveness, and on balance, parents should be able to opt in for their children.
Children have been at the back of the queue for benefits. If they want a vaccine, they should have access to it.
If the vaccines are going to have any impact, it is important that they are given before an outbreak. Younger children might be able to receive a second dose before the Autumn if they arevaccinated now. According to the guidance of the JCVI, 5- to 11-year-olds should not be offered a second dose until at least 12 weeks after their first jab.
New data suggested a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine almost eliminated the risk of re-infection for at least 100 days for children who had recovered from Covid.
The study analysed data from 115,775 British adolescents whose parents reported their symptoms via a symptom study app.
It suggested that a single vaccine dose reduced the risk of Omicron infections by 53.7% at 14 days, 57.9% at 30 days, and 63.7% at 61 days.
The following symptoms were less common among those who had received a single vaccine dose than among those who had not.
Prof Emma Duncan from King's College London said the findings highlighted the benefits of being vaccine free, both in terms of protection from illness and avoiding further disruption to children's education.
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