26/07/2021
3rd July 2021 🇲🇾
COVID-19 Vaccination for Children below 18years
Disclaimer ▶️ This is based on current data & available guidelines. Again this differs in each country depending on what Vaccine is available & local data.
⁉️Receiving many questions regarding the current COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) decision to not give vaccines to those below 17 years except special groups .
QUESTIONS ❓
👉🏼What Vaccine is currently approved for children below 18years?
👉🏼 What group of children 12 - 17 years should receive COVID19 vaccination?
👉🏼Why are children not a priority for COVID 19
VACCINATION?
👉🏼How do we keep our children who are not yet vaccinated safe?
So again to HIGHLIGHT the AIM of Vaccination is
✅PREVENT DEATH
✅HOSPITALIZATIONS
✅ SEVERE DISEASE
1.👉🏼What Vaccine is currently approved for children below 18years❓
🩺Pfizer/BionTech(mRNA) is suitable for use by people aged 12 years and above , adviced by WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE)
🩺Some countries have started giving Sinovac & Sinopharm ( inactivated ) Eg : Indonesia ( 12-17 years)
🩺Other vaccines currently in Phase 1&2 trials with very promising data with good immune response post vaccine from ages 3 - 17 years
✅Sinovac & Sinopharm - China
✅Covaxin (inactivated) - India
2.👉🏼What group of children 12 - 17 years should receive COVID19 vaccination❓
🩺🇲🇾 Health ministry is finalising clinical guidelines on those with chronic illness & those at risk for Severe COVID19 for administration of Vaccination
🩺The UK Joint Committee for Vaccination & Immunisation (JCVI) have offered vaccines for these special groups
✅12-15 year olds who are increased risk of serious COVID-19 disease and hospitalisation
➡️Those with severe neuro-disabilities
➡️Those with immunosuppression
➡️Those with Down Syndrome
➡️Those with profound and multiple learning disabilities, severe learning disabilities, or on the learning disability register
✅12-17 year olds who are household contacts of people who are immunosuppressed
✅Those turning 18 in the next three months
3.👉🏼Why are children not a priority for COVID 19
VACCINATION?
🩺Children and adolescents tend to have milder disease compared to adults, so unless they are part of a group at higher risk of severe COVID-19, it is less urgent to vaccinate them than older people, those with chronic health conditions and health workers.
🩺 In Malaysia as of June 1st 2021 COVID-19 Case fatility rate among under 18 was 0.02%, 15 of the 82,341 case who got infected, succumbed to COVID-19 ➡️ Of course as the number of infections increase so will the deaths even in children. However the severity of disease is still higher in those >18years
4.👉🏼How do we keep our children who are not yet vaccinated safe?
🩺We need to keep to the Public Health measures on masks,good ventilation,making sure those above 18 are vaccinated
🩺Making sure children still get all their NORMAL VACCINATION as per the National Immunisation Programme with additional vaccines if able to
🩺Looking after overall mental,physical health
✅ So to summarise more evidence is needed on the use of the different COVID-19 vaccines in children to be able to make general recommendations on vaccinating children against COVID-19
✅Vaccine trials for children are ongoing and international & national governing bodies will update its recommendations when the evidence or epidemiological situation warrants a change in policy.
✅ The likelihood of all children getting vaccinated is certainly there,but for now priority is to the adults & those at a higher risk.
✅It's important for children to continue to have the recommended childhood vaccines & keep to latest public health measures
Again please remember to refer to proper sources and always update yourself as we are still learning about the virus and information changes everyday 💚
Source World Health Organization (WHO) JKJAV CodeBlue Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health KKM
Dr Sangeetha Siniah
Paediatric Infectious Disease and Immunology Fellow
