The low rate of vaccination in children between the ages of 5 and 11 in the USA worries experts. By January 11, it was reported that the rate of those vaccinated in this age group was slightly above 17 percent.
More than two months after the vaccine was approved for this age group, just over 17 percent of children nationwide were fully vaccinated. The 5-11 age vaccination rate was 48 percent in the state of Vermont, 19 percent in California and 5 percent in Mississippi.
The immunization rate of primary school children had increased with the approval of the vaccine in the fall, but then the rate started to decrease gradually. The rapid spread of Omicron does not seem to have much effect on vaccination of this age group.
Director of the Center for Global Health at Northwestern University, Dr. “The rates are very disturbing,” said Robert Murphy, adding that families who hesitate to vaccinate their children are taking a big risk and continue to fuel the pandemic.
Children’s hospitalization rate at the peak of recent weeks
In the USA, the rate of hospitalization of children under the age of 18 due to Covid-19 has reached the highest level in recent weeks.
“The low vaccination rate is like a punch to the stomach, especially at a time when we’re working so hard to keep children well,” said Natasha Burget, MD, a pediatrician at Overland Park Hospital in Kansas.
To date, data and scientific studies show that vaccines are safe and effective; proved to prevent severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths.
In America, 63 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. Between the ages of 12 and 17, this rate is 54 percent.
The Covid-19 vaccine for young children has so far been approved in at least 12 countries. Since November, when the Pfizer vaccine was approved for children ages 5 to 11 in Canada, only 2 percent of children have been fully vaccinated.
Vaccine safety still questioned
The holiday season, with snowstorms, tornadoes and other bad weather in December, is thought to have slowed the vaccination rate in the US. But many families have other concerns.
Kendra Shaw, who lives in Chicago, did not want to have her two school-aged children vaccinated because she did not believe the potential risks and benefits of vaccinations outweighed the risks.
But this week, their 10-year-old daughter wanted to be vaccinated so she wouldn’t miss school any more, and her son, who is about to turn 7, so he could throw his birthday party. Shaw has made an appointment for his first doses but is still very undecided.
Daniel Kotzin, who lives in Denver, said that he finds it unnecessary for children to be vaccinated because they have a mild Omicron variant.
Doctors say such thoughts are part of the problem and mislead the public.
Emergency pediatrician in Rochester, New York, Dr. Elizabeth Murray said it is true that children are generally less affected by Covid-19 than adults, but not being too sick can still cause exhausting fever attacks, muscle aches, multiple system inflammation syndrome (MIS-C) or prolonged Covid-19 symptoms.
MIS-C is a rare but serious condition associated with Covid-19. The disease can affect many organs and may require hospitalization.
Authorities do not think that Omicron makes children and adults sick more than other variants; He states that the increase in hospitalization rates is partly due to the variant being more contagious.
Doctors stated that some children were hospitalized for diseases such as lung diseases, diabetes, sickle cell, but their condition worsened due to Covid-19.
“If we can get every child vaccinated, we’ve come a long way,” said Jesse Hackell, a pediatrician from Pomona, New York. “This won’t end the epidemic, but it will end severe illness.” And we can deal with that,” he said.
Moderna to release 2-5 year old vaccine data in March
Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccine is the only vaccine approved for children ages 2 to 5 in the US. However, another ambassador RNA vaccine manufacturer, Moderna, is trying to develop vaccines for children in this age group. Moderna reported that it will announce the data of the Covid-19 vaccine trial, which it continues with children aged 2 to 5, in March.
The Covid-19 vaccine, developed by Moderna’s ambassador RNA method, has been approved to be administered to adolescents aged 12 to 17 in Europe, England, Australia and Canada. The company has also applied for approval for the vaccine to be administered to 6- to 11-year-olds.
The US Food and Drug Administration approved the first administration of the Moderna vaccine to those aged 18 years and older in two doses, and then a single dose booster dose. However, the company still has not received approval for the vaccine to be administered to children.