Vaccinating Children Against COVID-19 is Essential Prior to the Removal of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions

Abstract

Objectives(s): To evaluate the joint impact of childhood vaccination rates and masking policies, in schools and workplaces, on community transmission and severe outcomes due to COVID-19. Study design: We utilized a stochastic, agent-based simulation of North Carolina, to evaluate the impact of 24 health policy decisions on overall incidence of disease, COVID-19 related hospitalization, and mortality from July 1, 2021-July 1, 2023. Results: Universal mask removal in schools in January 2022 could lead to a 38.1-47%, 27.6-36.2%, and 15.9-19.7% increase in cumulative infections for ages 5-9, 10-19, and the total population, respectively, depending on the rate of vaccination of children relative to the adult population. Additionally, without increased vaccination uptake in the adult population, a 25% increase in child vaccination uptake from 50% to 75% uptake and from 75% to 100% uptake relative to the adult population, leads to a 22% and 18% or 28% and 33% decrease in peak hospitalizations in 2022 across scenarios when masks are removed either January 1st or March 8th 2022, respectively. Increasing vaccination uptake for the entire eligible population can reduce peak hospitalizations in 2022 by an average of 89% and 92% across all masking scenarios compared to the scenarios where no children are vaccinated. Conclusion(s): High vaccination uptake among both children and adults is necessary to mitigate the increase in infections from mask removal in schools and workplaces.

A comprehensive review of BBV152 vaccine development, effectiveness, safety, challenges, and prospects

“…The failure to decrease infection rates in the ongoing pandemic has been associated with an increasing burden of infections in children ( 121 ). Therefore, several countries have now considered including children in their COVID-19 vaccination programs ( 122 – 124 ), making it a priority to develop new vaccines or establish the safety of current vaccines in children. A Phase II/III open-label, multi-center age de-escalation study was performed across six hospitals in India, in three pediatric age cohorts (n=526): ≤18->12years (group 1: n=176), ≤12->6 years (group 2: n=175) and ≤6->2 years (group 3: n=175) ( 125 ).…”

Impacto de la educación virtual y del retorno total a clases presenciales en la salud mental de población pediátrica en pandemia y postpandemia por COVID-19

“…33,35 This perception of danger was especially high for those who, for various reasons, were not yet vaccinated or who, even if vaccinated, had chronic diseases or underlying conditions associated with increased morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. 36 Furthermore, it is also necessary to take into account that some children and adolescents developed a fear of catching SARS-CoV-2 and transmitting the virus to their loved ones upon returning to the classroom. 37 Thus, in cases of death by COVID-19 of a family member or close person, this population generated feelings of guilt associated with the belief of having been the source of contagion of their loved ones, making it more difficult for them to grieve.…”