Covid, pediatrician: “Virus more fearful than myocarditis, yes to vaccine under 12”

“Do not delay the start of vaccinations for children under 12”, when the green light from the regulatory bodies arrives. “Because it is not true that children get sick less” of Covid-19. “On the contrary, they are as likely to become infected as adults, but in a higher percentage they have asymptomatic forms, that is, the only infection without clinical manifestations, or a mild or moderate disease. I have already estimated hospitalizations or deaths that are avoided by vaccinating children” . To explain it to Adnkronos Salute is Italo Farnetani, full professor of paediatrics at the Free Ludes University of Malta. In the debate among experts on whether to immunize children, one of the main issues is that of myocarditis which have been identified as rare adverse events of mRna vaccines, in particular for males under 30. An issue that has prompted for example the virologist Andrea Crisanti to say that, in order to have a clear picture, one must first look at the data on the field arriving from the USA, without running. “As regards myocarditis – observes Farnetani – an important specification must be made: we do not know the exact incidence and prevalence of cases of myocarditis that occur in unvaccinated children, as myocarditis is a disease that is often not diagnosed in exact and certain way, it is sometimes confused with other diseases because it presents with an extreme variability of clinical manifestations, that is with symptoms that are often referred to other diseases. Therefore the cases of myocarditis are, in the unvaccinated population, many more than how much do you think “. If the exact incidence and prevalence of myocarditis is not known – Farnetani points out – the number of cases found in the vaccinated population cannot be compared, precisely because I do not have an exact term of comparison. On vaccinated people there is extreme control and attention to the various symptoms “, but on the general population of the same age group obviously” there is not the same careful evaluation “. Even looking at the numbers available, he continues,” the cases of myocarditis found they are 50 to 79 for every million doses administered. By comparing this data with Covid cases, hospitalizations and deaths, the cost-benefit ratio is always advantageous. Each case of myocarditis found is still 212 times less than prevented Covid cases, 6 times less than hospitalizations in normal wards, 2 times less than those in intensive care. And 3 deaths are avoided. Furthermore, the cases of myocarditis have always been resolved in a few days “. If the exact incidence and prevalence of myocarditis is not known – points out Farnetani – the number of cases found in the vaccinated population cannot be compared, precisely because I do not have a exact term of comparison. On the vaccinated there is extreme control and attention to the various symptoms “, but on the general population of the same age group obviously” there is not the same careful evaluation “. Even looking at the numbers available, he continues,” the cases of myocarditis found are from 50 to 79 for every million doses administered. Comparing this data with the cases of Covid, hospitalizations and deaths, the cost-benefit ratio is always advantageous. Each case of myocarditis found is still 212 times less of Covid cases prevented, 6 times less than hospitalizations in normal wards, 2 times less than those in intensive care. And 3 deaths are avoided. In addition, cases of myocarditis r the conflicts were always resolved in a few days. “Another aspect that is often not considered must also be weighed on the balance between risks and benefits. It is an element that goes into the ‘plate’ of the “negative effects of Covid”. From this side of the scale, “the psychological damage – the expert explains to Adnkronos Health – insomnia, lack of appetite, depression, poor school performance” must also be evaluated. If we also consider these aspects, which had a great impact on the lives of the little ones during the pandemic, “the advantages of vaccination are even greater. And a great advantage is to avoid Dad, quarantine, and the risk of having to isolate oneself. from the peer group “.