Reasons in favour of universal vaccination campaign against COVID-19 in the pediatric population

Background Despite the growing evidence of the extreme efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in adults and the elderly, the administration of the same prophylactic measures to pediatric subjects is debated by some parents and by a number of researchers. The aim of this manuscript is to explain the reasons for overcoming hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents and to highlight the importance of universal COVID-19 vaccination in the pediatric population. Main findings Recent epidemiological data suggest that the risk that a child with COVID-19 is hospitalized or admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit is greater than initially thought. Children may also suffer from long COVID and school closure because of COVID-19 can cause relevant mental health problems in the pediatric population. Placebo-controlled, observer-blinded, clinical trials showed appropriate efficacy, safety and tolerability of authorized mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in children and adolescents 12–17 years old. Vaccination in children younger than 12 years of age will allow further benefits . Conclusions COVID-19 vaccine administration seems mandatory in all the children and adolescents because of COVID-19 related complications as well as the efficacy, safety and tolerability of COVID-19 vaccines in this population. Due to the recent approval of COVID-9 vaccines for children 5–10 years old, it is desirable that vaccine opponents can understand how important is the universal immunization against COVID-19 for the pediatric subjects.

Covid Vaccines for Children with Developmental Disabilities: Parent Survey of Willingness and Concerns

Objective While 1-in-6 US children has a developmental disability (DD), and such children are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, little is known about their vaccination status. We surveyed US parents of children with DDs to ascertain willingness and concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccines. Methods An online survey was distributed to national, statewide, and regional DD networks from June-September 2021. (Vaccines were authorized for adolescents in May 2021.) We report associations between vaccine willingness and concerns and: race/ethnicity, child age, in-person schooling, routine/flu vaccinations, and DD diagnoses. Willingness was categorized as Got /Will Get ASAP (high), Wait and See/Only if Required, or Definitely Not. Results 393 parents (51.2% white) responded. Willingness differed by age (p<.001). High willingness was reported for 75.3%, 48.9%, and 38.1% of children aged 12-17, 6-11 and 0-5 years-old, respectively. Willingness differed by Autism diagnosis (p<.001) and routine and flu vaccination status (p<.01). Predominant concerns included side effects (89%) and children with disabilities not being in trials (79%). Less common concerns were: COVID not serious enough in children to warrant vaccine (22%) and misinformation (e.g., microchips, 5G, DNA changes) (24%). Concerns about vaccine safety differed by age (p<.05) and were highest for young children. In age-stratified adjusted models, Autism was positively associated with high willingness for 6-11year-olds (OR= 2.66, 95% CI= 1.12-6.35). Conclusion Parents of children with DD are more willing for them to receive COVID-19 vaccines, compared to the general population. While few factors predicted willingness to vaccinate, addressing safety and developmental concerns regarding young children is warranted.

Adults’ Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine for Children in Selected Lower- and Middle-Income Countries

Since emergency approval of COVID-19 vaccines for children aged between 12 and 15 years old was recently obtained in the United States and Europe, we aimed to assess the willingness to vaccinate children with a COVID-19 vaccine in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Therefore, we launched an online cross-sectional survey in several LMICs. Questions relating to socio-demographic information, knowledge of COVID-19, level of fear/worry of being infected with COVID-19, and willingness to vaccinate children with the COVID-19 vaccine at 50%, 75% and 95% effectiveness levels, were asked. Of the 6571 participants (mean age = 39 ± 14 years), 64.0%, 72.6%, and 92.9% were willing to vaccinate children at 50%, 75%, and 95% effectiveness levels, respectively. Respondents who were undergraduates, who were more worried/fearful about COVID-19, had higher knowledge scores regarding COVID-19, and a higher belief that COVID-19 vaccination is important to protect others, were more willing to accept COVID-19 vaccination of children. COVID-19 vaccination of children will limit the spread of the virus, especially in schools; it may decrease the need for school closures which has a negative effect on child development. Findings from this study are useful for health promotion strategies during COVID-19 vaccination implementation among children in LMICs.

Namere o vakcinisanju dece protiv kovida-19: verodostoјnost informaciјa i emocionalno-kognitivna pobuđenost

The parental decision to vaccinate children presents a specific cognitive and emotional challenge, which is further aggravated by the conditions of the Kovid-19 epidemic and the general discourse on vaccination. It is estimated that the first vaccines for children against Covid-19 will be available in early 2022. In this study, we examined whether emotional-cognitive alertness (ECA) as a consequence of life circumstances due to the epidemic, the assessed credibility of information (CI) from various sources, which is the basis of trust, as well as the general attitude about vaccinating children unrelated to Covid-19, form intentions to vaccinate a child against Kovid-19. The results indicate that the general attitude towards vaccination and ECA are the strongest predictors of the intention to vaccinate a child. This intention is not influenced by the estimated CI representatives of public health, and the connection with the physicians' CI is negative. The epistemic authorities which traditionally represent one of the main supports for parents when deciding on vaccination have an altogether weaker impact than expected.

COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Adolescents in Africa: Aligning our Priorities to Situational Realities (Preprint)

UNSTRUCTURED The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa is unparalleled. Most countries within Africa are facing major challenges vaccinating their populations. Lack of sufficient doses of COVID-19 vaccines, weaknesses in health infrastructure, and vaccine hesitancy are contributing to low vaccination rates among the adult population on the continent. In contrast, most high-income countries and some middle-income countries have already vaccinated more than half of their adult population and have started vaccinating children and adolescents (CA). Without sufficient COVID-19 vaccine coverage on the African continent, the prolonged social, economic, and health impacts of this public health crisis are likely to exacerbate pre-existing social-structural issues in this part of the world. In this paper, we highlight trends in SARS-CoV-2 infections among CA, compare COVID-19 vaccination patterns in Africa to high income countries, and discuss some of the benefits, challenges, and unknowns associated with vaccinating CA for COVID-19. In light of ongoing COVID-19 vaccine supply challenges and the slow progress that the African continent is making towards vaccinating the adult population, we suggest that the immediate priority for Africa is to accelerate COVID-19 vaccinations among the adult population and vulnerable CA (i.e., those who are immunocompromised and/or living with comorbidities). Accelerating the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and rapidly achieving high levels of vaccination coverage in the adult population will free up capacity to vaccinate CA sooner rather than later.

The Moral Calm Before the Storm: How a Theory of Moral Calms Explains the Covid-Related Increase in Parents’ Refusal of Vaccines for Children

In this study, I ask why, despite historically high rates of participation in childhood vaccination campaigns, large numbers of US parents are now planning to refuse or delay getting Covid-19 vaccines for their children. Combining insights from the theory of moral panics with pre-pandemic research on parents who refuse vaccines, I argue that to understand the high levels of concern about Covid-19 vaccines for children, we need a theory of “moral calms.” Drawing on interviews with 80 mothers of young children whose vaccine decisions I have tracked since 2018, I find that early public health and media messaging created a “moral calm” around children and Covid-19. These messages led many mothers—particularly mothers who perceived their families as “naturally healthy”—to see their children as being at low risk of contracting, transmitting, and suffering serious consequences from Covid-19. As a result, many mothers came to see Covid-19 vaccines as unnecessary, even if they had previously vaccinated their children. Seeing vaccines as unnecessary then made mothers more susceptible to misinformation about Covid-19 vaccine risks and ultimately weakened their desire to vaccinate their children as soon as possible. I conclude that moral calms can, ironically, lay the groundwork for moral panics. By weakening people’s concerns about a larger threat, they facilitate efforts to raise concerns about other smaller or nonexistent threats. I discuss how the theory of moral calms may help to explain other moral panics, and I consider the implications of these findings for efforts to reduce or prevent vaccine refusal.

Comprehensive antibody profiling of mRNA vaccination in children

With the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, fluctuating mask mandates, and school re-openings, increased infections and disease surged among children recently. Thus, there is an urgent need for COVID-19 vaccines for children of all ages. However, whether young children will respond appropriately to mRNA vaccines remains unclear. Here, we deeply profiled the vaccine-induced humoral immune response in 7-11 year old children receiving the mRNA-1273 vaccine. Vaccinated children induced significantly higher antibody titers and functions compared to naturally infected children. Moreover, we observed comparable SARS-CoV-2 titers and neutralizing activity across variants of concern and superior Fcγ-receptor binding and phagocytic antibodies in children compared to vaccinated adults. Our data indicate that mRNA vaccination elicits robust antibody responses and drives superior antibody functionality in children.

Vaccine Coverage Across the Life Course in Michigan During the COVID-19 Pandemic: January–September 2020

Objectives. To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on immunization services across the life course. Methods. In this retrospective study, we used Michigan immunization registry data from 2018 through September 2020 to assess the number of vaccine doses administered, number of sites providing immunization services to the Vaccines for Children population, provider location types that administer adult vaccines, and vaccination coverage for children. Results. Of 12 004 384 individual vaccine doses assessed, 48.6%, 15.6%, and 35.8% were administered to children (aged 0–8 years), adolescents (aged 9–18 years), and adults (aged 19–105 years), respectively. Doses administered overall decreased beginning in February 2020, with peak declines observed in April 2020 (63.3%). Overall decreases in adult doses were observed in all settings except obstetrics and gynecology provider offices and pharmacies. Local health departments reported a 66.4% decrease in doses reported. For children, the total number of sites administering pediatric vaccines decreased while childhood vaccination coverage decreased 4.4% overall and 5.8% in Medicaid-enrolled children. Conclusions. The critical challenge is to return to prepandemic levels of vaccine doses administered as well as to catch up individuals for vaccinations missed. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print October 7, 2021: e1–e9. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306474 )