This is perhaps the last of the last efforts. The state of health emergency must be lifted in Quebec after the vaccination of 5 to 11 year olds, according to the Prime Minister, François Legault. However, 27% of parents of young children say they do not want to vaccinate their young. Complete review of the question with Dr. Sarah Wizman De Louya, pediatrician-infectious disease specialist.
“The burden of the pandemic is not heavy among young people,” concedes from the outset the medical director of ELNA Pediatrics, a clinic working continuously for the treatment of children with COVID-19.
One third of school-aged children have no symptoms. The National Institute of Public Health notes only two deaths from COVID-19 in Quebecers under 19 years old. In the United States, the National Academy of Pediatrics has recorded 584 child deaths, for a case fatality rate of up to 0.03%.
In addition, the symptoms of COVID-19 manifest themselves in the same way in adults and children, with a preponderance of gastrointestinal problems in the latter.
Nevertheless, the stories of complications exist, and the specialist warns against these rare cases. “It’s like meningitis. A case of meningitis is pretty catastrophic in a family. “
“You don’t do it for others. You do it for your child, ”insists Dr. Wizman.
She specifies that “most of the serious cases during the last wave were toddlers under a month, and less than a year if we put the other three waves together.” Vaccinating your school-age child helps limit contamination within the family nucleus, she adds.
Heart problems
Many parents are concerned about myocarditis and pericarditis (inflammation of the heart) sometimes seen after vaccination.
These cases remain rare, according to Dr. Wizman. For adults, data indicates that 5 in 100,000 people vaccinated suffer from this side effect. In children, the ratio is 2 per 100,000. “We are more likely to have complications from COVID-19 than with vaccines,” reiterates Dr. Wizman.
As for the vaccination itself, the dose for children has been adjusted. It is 10 micrograms in children under 12 compared to 30 micrograms in adults. When you compare the effects of vaccination in children versus their elders, “not only is the effectiveness similar, but the safety is greater,” says Dr. Wizman. Side effects such as fever, headache or fatigue occur “much less” often in people under 12 years of age.
When it comes to the logistics of immunizing children, Dr. Wizman believes that everything should be done with the informed consent of parents. Vaccination of adolescents, with school bus transport, has enabled nearly 80% of them to be immunized, an omen for the vaccination of the little ones, she said. Especially since the “optimal” difference between two doses is two months, notes Dr. Wizman, the distribution of vaccines will be “easily organized” for the whole of Quebec. “The two doses will not be given back to back. “
Everything indicates that this last stage of the largest vaccination campaign in the world will soon take shape in Quebec. Pfizer’s vaccine has taken a first step, namely FDA approval. A committee of experts from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control is currently examining the results. This US federal public health agency will then publish its recommendations, the final step in the authorization process.
The chief medical adviser at Health Canada said last week that it could still be a few weeks before authorities here make a final decision on vaccinating children.