Expert reaction on pediatric covid vaccination in Spain

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This article is 3 years old

The Public Health Commission (CSP) of the Spanish National Health System approved last December 7 the vaccination of children aged 5-11 against covid-19. Attached are statements by the coordinator of the Vaccine Commission of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics, Francisco Álvarez García, as well as other journalistic resources on this subject.

SMC Spain

09/12/2021 - 13:27 CET

Versión en castellano

The Public Health Commission has given the green light to vaccinate children aged 5-11 years against covid-19. / Adobe Stock.

Resources

Updated information from the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP). This text reminds about special cases and immunosuppressed children: "Other issues such as vaccination in special cases (children who have already passed the covid or who suffer it in the time between both doses) are to be determined. Immunosuppressed children, a special risk group who need special attention, may display an incomplete immune response after vaccination. Therefore, the technical sheet already includes the option of a third dose 4 weeks after the second dose of the standard schedule."

‍Studies supporting licensure of covid vaccines in children and adolescents.

Frenck RW, et al. Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine in Adolescents. N Engl J Med. 2021;385:239-50.
Ali KA, et al. Evaluation of mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Adolescents. N Engl J Med. 2021;385:2241-51.
Walter EB, et al. Evaluation of the BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine in Children 5 to 11 Years of Age. N Engl J Med. 2021, 9/nov. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2116298.

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Expert reactions

Francisco Álvarez - vacuna covid pediátrica España EN

Francisco Álvarez García

Coordinator of the AEP Vaccine Advisory Committee and Primary Care pediatrician

Spanish Paediatrics Association

Llanera Health Centre, Asturias

The AEP (Spanish Association of Pediatrics) recommends vaccination for five reasons:

- Because we have a vaccine that has been shown to be effective (90.7%) and safe.

- Because of the right to individual protection of children against a disease which, although generally mild in this age group, can be serious and can cause complications. Since the beginning of the pandemic in Spain there have been 10 deaths in children under 10 years of age and more than 180 admissions to the PICU.

- Contribute to the achievement and maintenance of safe educational spaces, which allow a normalization of schooling, interpersonal relationships and psychoemotional well-being of these children, because psychiatrists have seen this in the pandemic.

- Enable group protection, which for the delta is 91% and this age group represents 10% of the population and we will also manage to reduce the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and the appearance of new variants;

- Not to deprive this group of the benefits of vaccination enjoyed by others, even if their health objectives are different.

On the safety of vaccines

Has it been tested in a sufficient number of children? Of course, the trial is powerful and the side effects are the usual ones even minor because it carries 1/3 of the adult dose.

About myocarditis and other side effects

No myocarditis has been detected in children under 12 years of age. Myocarditis is not expected in this age group (5-11) and we have administered 3 million doses in the USA and Canada and it has not appeared.

The main side effects are the usual ones: fever, chills, tiredness, headache and myalgia.

The author has not responded to our request to declare conflicts of interest

Language EN