While COVID-19 vaccines are available globally for adults, the world is still waiting for an effective vaccine for children. Normalcy can’t be expected in the society with children locked inside their houses.

Like in adults, a vaccine against COVID-19 can reduce possibly reduce the odds of children getting serious complications. It can also help protect older adults around children who are at high risk.

Additionally, children constitute a large proportion of the population and vaccinating them will heighten the chances of achieving herd immunity.¹

So, vaccinating children will likely have a direct benefit of protecting children against the rare severe disease from COVID-19 and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), and an indirect benefit of protecting people around them by reducing disease transmission.²

Several vaccines are currently undergoing trials in children. Pfizer has finished a trial in children 12-15 years old and is now doing trials in younger age groups. Moderna has also started vaccine trials for children 6 months to 11 years of age and another trial for those aged 12 to 17 years. Johnson & Johnson is also expected to start similar trials soon.

Pfizer reported that the trials of its COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 12 to 15 yearsexhibited 100% efficacy and a strong immune response.³

Experts suggest that children’s immune systems are laden with cells that haven’t encountered several pathogens. Therefore, they end up producing a strong immune response to vaccines.⁴

While this is good, it also means that they have a higher likelihood than adults of developing a fever after vaccination. Therefore, a balance needs to be maintained between triggering a strong immune response and minimizing the side effects.⁴

Eventually, we will also need studies on how to integrate a COVID-19 vaccine into a child’s immunization schedule. Additionally, safety is of utmost importance in trials involving children.

It remains to be seen how COVID vaccines will work in children, but it is a necessity to protect them against this highly transmissible disease.

References

1. COVID-19 Vaccines and Kids: What to Know. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/covid-19-vaccines-kids-what-to-know#1. Accessed on April 28, 2021.
2. Klass P, Ratner AJ. Vaccinating Children against Covid-19 — The Lessons of Measles.N Engl J Med 2021; 384:589-591.
3. Covid: Children well protected by Pfizer vaccine. Available from: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-56591429. Accessed on April 28, 2021.
4. Callaway E. COVID vaccines and kids: five questions as trials begin. Available from: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01061-4.