Lower COVID’s Burden In Kids

 

After a long wait, parents and pediatricians from all around the country were relieved last week to finally be able to safely provide young children powerful immune protection against the devastating pandemic virus that has killed over a million Americans and damaged the physical and mental health of tens of millions more (some permanently) over the last 30 months.

Allegheny Health Network issued a press release last week describing the burden of disease young people have suffered — and continue to suffer — from coronavirus:

Although COVID-19 is normally less severe in children than adults, the virus can be life threatening for some kids. COVID is the fifth leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, according to CDC data. More than 200 children ages 6 months to 4 years old have died from COVID since January 2020. More than 2 million children in this age group have been infected during the pandemic, and more than 20,000 have been hospitalized.

“The availability of a vaccine for children 6 months and older is another important milestone in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. On behalf of Allegheny Health Network, we are strongly encouraging parents and guardians to get their younger children vaccinated and protected against serious illness from the disease,” said Joseph Aracri, DO, pediatrician and Chair of AHN Pediatric Institute.

 

More than 1,000 children 0-17 years old have died from COVID-19 so far, including 442 children 4 and under, according to the most recent CDC data. In fact, as the chart below indicates, deaths per year from COVID-19 are higher in infants and young children compared with other vaccine-preventable infections kids are regularly immunized against.

Dr. Katelyn Jetelina (Your Local Epidemiologist) cites some other important reasons why it is in children’s best interests to get immunized against coronavirus:

In terms of hospitalization, children, and specifically those under age 5, did not fare well during our first Omicron wave. According to the CDC, children under 5 had the highest rate of hospitalizations compared to other pediatric groups. Among children hospitalized, 1 in 4 ended up in the ICU.

Severe disease is not the only outcome of SARS-CoV-2:

• Long COVID19 does occur among kids, and vaccines reduce the burden of long COVID by 15-50%.

• We parents know that masking and social distancing very young kids can be nearly impossible. The layers of protection we can employ are less than optimal.

• We have frequent, unexpected disruptions in care and schooling of children that contribute to the daily burden of COVID. While not perfect, vaccines will help reduce infections and transmission, inching us closer to less family disruptions.

 

Long-COVID developing after an acute infection is a serious complication that everyone, even young kids, should try to avoid. Researchers in Italy published a study last year finding that more than half of kids diagnosed with COVID-19 subsequently developed one or more symptoms of long-COVID within 120 days of being infected. Jen Christianson looked at another study, this one from Denmark, showing that even infants and toddlers can be affected by long-COVID symptoms in ways that are similar to the nearly 20% of infected adults who end up with long-COVID:

The most common symptoms varied by age. For children up through age 3, it was mood swings, rashes and stomach aches. Children 4 to 11 years old also experienced memory and concentration problems. For the 12- to 14-year-olds, it was memory and concentration issues, mood swings and fatigue.

Children 3 and under seemed to have the most problems compared with those children not diagnosed with Covid-19 — 40% experienced symptoms two months after testing positive compared with the 27% in the group that did not have Covid.

 

Last week, Moderna joined Pfizer/BioNTech when its vaccine was approved for use in kids 6-17 years old. Now both vaccines are available for everyone beginning at 6 months of age.

The Pfizer vaccine is a 3-dose series for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers ages 6 months to 4 years. Each dose is 3 micrograms — one-tenth the dose adults receive. The second dose is given 3 weeks after the first dose, and the third dose comes 8 weeks after the second.

Moderna’s vaccine is given in two doses for children 6 months to 5 years old. Each shot is 25 micrograms — one-fourth the level that adults receive. The second dose should be given 4 weeks after the first. A third dose is recommended 4 weeks later for children who are immunosuppressed.

Dr. Jetelina, an expert in public health and epidemiology, dives deep into the now-strong evidence showing the vaccines’ safety and efficacy in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. She explains why she won’t delay getting her kids protected against this nasty virus, and why other parents shouldn’t either:

This vaccine is safe and effective, and our littlest kids need it. Next week, I will be standing in line to finally get my girls protection from this now vaccine-preventable disease. I hope you will get your kids protected as well, as the evidence is clear.

 

Please call your pediatrician’s office to schedule a convenient time to get your kids protected against this miserable and dangerous infection. Check to make sure your child’s other vaccines are up to date (it’s safe to give other vaccines at the same time COVID shots are given). Parents who are hesitant to immunize their children against this vaccine-preventable illness should take the time to talk it over with their trusted pediatrician who can easily provide the reassurance needed to move the process forward and protect all children against this modern-day scourge.

 

(American Academy of Pediatrics)

source http://www.thepediablog.com/2022/06/27/lower-covids-burden-in-kids/