Pre-school children to be last vaccinated against Covid
Governments and parents need to be patient with children under five to be the last to get the Covid vaccine, a leading Queensland infectious disease expert warns. VOTE IN OUR POLL
Pre-school children will be the last to be vaccinated against Covid as scientists work to find the right paediatric dose and deal with the stumbling block that parents are reluctant to put forward small children for clinical trials, a Queensland infectious disease expert has warned.
Professor Paul Griffin speaks out following Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s announcement that she had to consider the safety of children before opening up the state.
The professor said governments and parents must be patient in the wait to have the youngest Queenslanders jabbed and insisted that people should not be locked out of the state while this work continues.
“There are trials running around the world that include children as young as six months but parents are more reluctant to put children of this young age forward for clinical trials. Patience is needed from everyone,” he said.
The study process for small children is very different to the protocols for adults
While kids aged 12 to 15 can receive the same dose of vaccine as an adult, young children with small bodies will need smaller doses.
The experts have to balance what dose will give these children protection with fewer side effects.
Children have different immunity levels than grown ups.
In Australia children aged 12 to 15 will be able to book a Pfizer vaccine from September 13.
Department of Health data shows that from January 1 to August 1 this year 2.5 per cent of children aged up to nine and 2.9 per cent children and teenagers aged 10-19 who contracted Covid ended up in hospital.
Before the scientists can give tick of approval for under 12s data on safety and efficacy will need to be collected from the older aged children.
Pfizer hopes to enrol 4500 under 12s internationally for trials.
Studies show that when a mother is vaccinated she can produce protective antibodies in her breastmilk to help protect her baby from the virus
“The best way we can protect our children in the meantime is for as many adults as possible to be vaccinated to help throw a ring of protection around them,” Prof Griffin said.
“Using children as a reason to not open up the state is not the way to go. The virus will come in, we have to be prepared internally for that.”
