Naslov
European Pediatric Societies and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 vaccination in children under age 12 years: a different path in England? Reply

Autori
Pettoello-Mantovani, Massimo ; ... ; Meštrović, Julije ; ... ; Namazova-Baranova, Leyla

Izvornik
The Journal of Pediatrics (0022-3476) 241 (2022); 263-265

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, komentar, stručni

Ključne riječi
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

Sažetak
We thank Dr Brown for her interest in our commentary regarding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination in children under the age of 12 years and for sharing the epidemiological data relating to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in England and Wales. Dr Brown reported a contrast with the path taken by England and Wales in recent months compared with other European areas. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, an agency of the European Union, has reported increased transmissibility across all age groups for SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, most notably for the Delta variant. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control also reports that in areas where an increasing percentage of adults are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 but where children are not vaccinated, increasingly greater proportions of SARS-CoV-2 cases are expected among children in the coming months. The COVID-19 pandemic has aggressively affected the European continent, although affecting populations differently, and the ways SARS-CoV-2 spreads are still partly unclear. Comparing the spread of coronavirus in different countries may be difficult using the epidemiological data released by governments. However, alarming data observed in young populations have recently been reported by several countries. For instance, children aged 19 years or less accounted for more than 50% of all cases of COVID-19 in Israel during September 2021 (54%), compared with 26% in June 2020 In children aged 9 years or younger, COVID-19 cases were 31.4% of all COVID-19 cases recorded in Israel during the same period, compared with only 7.9% of cases observed in June 2020. Children of all ages are susceptible to and can transmit SARS-CoV-2. Children seem to be particularly susceptible to the newer variants, and predisposed to develop severe and even fatal cases, including the multisystem inflammatory syndrome. Furthermore, the extent and severity of long-term effects, including the long-COVID syndrome, is unknown. Children tend to transmit the virus more efficiently than observed with the former variants and convincing data show that SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the community is correlated with the prevalence of infection rates in schools. Decreasing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in schools with the aim of protecting both young and adult populations, can be achieved by effective prevention strategies, based on promoting COVID-19 vaccination for those eligible. In conclusion, one of the lessons learned from the Delta variant epidemic wave is that it is going to be difficult to control SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks without vaccination of children. Ongoing international research and collaboration is essential and at present, the European Pediatric Association/Union of National European Pediatric Societies and Associations joins the American Academy of Pediatrics in recommendations against giving the vaccine to children under age 12 years before rigorous clinical trials are completed, adverse events carefully assessed, vaccines are authorized, and adequate dosage established by the respective national agencies.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA