TY - JOUR
T1 - The COVID-19 pandemic in children and young people during 2020-2021
T2 - a complex discussion on vaccination
AU - Rudan, Igor
AU - Adeloye, Davies
AU - Katikireddi, Vittal
AU - Murray, Josie
AU - Simpson, Colin
AU - Shah, Syed Ahmar
AU - Robertson, Chris
AU - Sheikh, Aziz
AU - EAVE II collaboration
N1 - Funding: EAVE II is funded by the Medical Research Council (MR/R008345/1) with the support of BREATHE – The Health Data Research Hub for Respiratory Health [MC_PC_19004], which is funded through the UK Research and Innovation Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and delivered through Health Data Research UK. Additional support has been provided through Public Health Scotland and Scottish Government DG Health and Social Care). SVK acknowledges funding from a NRS Senior Clinical Fellowship (SCAF/15/02), the Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00022/2) and the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (SPHSU17).
PY - 2021/12/25
Y1 - 2021/12/25
N2 - In this, second of the two editorials on children and young people (CYP) in the COVID-19 pandemic, we focus on the complex discussion on vaccination of minors against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Vaccination of children and young people (CYP) against COVID-19 remains highly debated, with considerable policy divergence internationally. Vaccinating younger age groups was not an initial plan when the original variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerged, because CYP seemed mildly affected by COVID-19 when compared to adults, as discussed in the first editorial. However, new mutations led to increased transmission of SARS-CoV-2. This led to an increase in the population threshold of vaccination coverage required for prevention of viral spread, possibly to levels above 80% vaccine uptake in the whole population. Also, due to the successful roll-out of vaccination to older and at-risk populations, the virus began to circulate in greater numbers amongst younger populations, which became a new concern. An important element was also the issue of broader harms, such as educational disruption, which can also become a determinant of long-term health. A broader perspective weighted the long-term impact across multiple dimensions of human life and shorter-term health concerns. In addition, increasing awareness of the possible rare complications of COVID-19 in CYP, such as Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), and the “long COVID” syndrome prompted the scientific study and comparison of the risks of disease vs the safety of vaccination, even among the very young [1,2]
AB - In this, second of the two editorials on children and young people (CYP) in the COVID-19 pandemic, we focus on the complex discussion on vaccination of minors against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Vaccination of children and young people (CYP) against COVID-19 remains highly debated, with considerable policy divergence internationally. Vaccinating younger age groups was not an initial plan when the original variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerged, because CYP seemed mildly affected by COVID-19 when compared to adults, as discussed in the first editorial. However, new mutations led to increased transmission of SARS-CoV-2. This led to an increase in the population threshold of vaccination coverage required for prevention of viral spread, possibly to levels above 80% vaccine uptake in the whole population. Also, due to the successful roll-out of vaccination to older and at-risk populations, the virus began to circulate in greater numbers amongst younger populations, which became a new concern. An important element was also the issue of broader harms, such as educational disruption, which can also become a determinant of long-term health. A broader perspective weighted the long-term impact across multiple dimensions of human life and shorter-term health concerns. In addition, increasing awareness of the possible rare complications of COVID-19 in CYP, such as Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), and the “long COVID” syndrome prompted the scientific study and comparison of the risks of disease vs the safety of vaccination, even among the very young [1,2]
KW - COVID-19
U2 - 10.7189/JOGH.11.01011
DO - 10.7189/JOGH.11.01011
M3 - Editorial
C2 - 35047183
AN - SCOPUS:85123669229
SN - 2047-2978
VL - 11
JO - Journal of Global Health
JF - Journal of Global Health
M1 - 01011
ER -
