As schools are planning to go offline from the upcoming new session, parents are worried about the news of school outbreaks of coronavirus. Although it seems that children are relatively safe, the deadly Covid-19 virus has claimed millions of lives across countries.
The data available on children suggests that only 8.5% of the reported cases were of children below the age of 18. Relatively few deaths as compared to other age groups were reported as well. Amid all speculations, data analysis, and the ever-changing virus strain, the non-availability of vaccines for children has worsened the anxiety of parents.
With the nation going full speed in its vaccination drive for adults, one must wonder why children are left behind.
The answer is that there are no vaccines available for children below 18 as of now. Then a question arises that at least eight Coronavirus vaccines are being used across the globe but none of them has been suitable for children?
When it comes to vaccines, doses vary from one age group to another? There is a huge difference in terms of reaction between adolescents and grown-ups.
According to experts children’s immune systems are extra robust, they respond strongly to a vaccine hence the side effects can also be stronger.
The data available on children suggests that only 8.5% of the reported cases were of children below the age of 18. Relatively few deaths as compared to other age groups were reported as well. Amid all speculations, data analysis, and the ever-changing virus strain, the non-availability of vaccines for children has worsened the anxiety of parents.
Furthermore, their response to vaccine changes with age group. The doses administered to one age group will not be enough for another.
For example, the same dose of the flu vaccine is given to adults and children alike, whereas in the case of the HPV vaccine, doses vary according to age. So, only trials will tell the right dose of vaccine for children.
Smaller trials for smaller age groups
The trials for adults involved thousands of volunteers, but the children’s trial will be smaller. Doses would be measured by an immune marker process. The efficacy will be estimated by measuring the level of ‘neutralizing antibodies’ (i.e. the mechanism that stops the viruses to enter the cells and replicate further ) in the blood of the vaccinated child.
The wait is almost a year-long.
Even if any of the vaccines are found to work well on children without any change in dose, children would still have to wait. Vaccines are in scarce supply, first meant for older adults and higher risk groups. Pfizer and Moderna said they will start the process soon and the results will be out sometime in the next year.
Herd immunity difficult without vaccinating children
Most children, as we know, fight off the otherwise deadly virus with mild or almost no symptoms. But they can spread it to others. Suppose in a family of three generations if a child gets infected in the school he could pass it on to the grandparents, who are yet to be immunized. Even at this pace, India will take at least 4 years to gain herd immunity. So vaccinating children will protect adults too.
If children are inoculated
- They would not get covid.
- They would not spread covid to others.
- They won’t act as a virus reservoir in the population.
- They won’t be the breeding ground of the new coronavirus mutants.
- The coronavirus outbreaks won’t disrupt the schools.
- Immunization will bring the population closer to herd immunity.