Vaccine for children yes or no? Rasi: “That’s why it’s essential”

“There is no doubt as to how pediatric vaccination will be the indispensable completion of the vaccination campaign” against Covid-19. “It will directly protect adults and children”. Guido Rasi, former executive director of the European Medicines Agency Ema, scientific director of Consulcesi and consultant to Commissioner Figliuolo on vaccines, says this in the online newspaper ‘Sanità Informazione’, trying to clarify whether or not to immunize children. “If we were able to have an approach without prejudice, looking for factual information to reach a rational decision – he explains – we would probably start by asking ourselves the following questions: is there a Covid risk for children? Would the risk of the vaccine be greater than the risk of Covid-19? Children also grow and evolve quickly, therefore: is this risk different in the various age groups currently under study, i.e. from 6 months to 2 years, from 2 to 5 years, and from 5 to 11 years? And finally: children constitute a danger of infection for the rest of the population? The first alarming reports of a growth of infection among children – notes the expert – came at the beginning of the summer from the United States, mainly in the 5-11 year age group. of pediatric infections has progressively exceeded that of the population over the age of 65, now sufficiently vaccinated. Unfortunately, the increase in infections has been accompanied by a rapid increase in o hospitalizations and deaths, tripled compared to the winter peak, even in children without known concomitant pathologies “.” In Italy the situation is following the same evolution even if on a smaller scale – observes the expert – perhaps due to the lower circulation of the virus and the best results of the vaccination campaign. However, the alarm went off here too. In the period 13-26 September 2021, in the population 0-19 years the Higher Institute of Health reports 13,352 new cases with 125 hospitalized, including intensive care, and one death. In addition – he highlights – the 35 total deaths reported to date in pediatric age show substantial homogeneity by age group “.” Overall – continues Rasi – there is now sufficient evidence in the literature that Covid-19 in pediatric age presents the same manifestations adult clinics, including Long Covid and ‘multi-organ inflammatory syndrome’ “.” With regard to the benefit-risk ratio – continues the expert in his analysis – naturally one will have to wait for the results of the studies currently underway, limited to ranges 6 months-2 years and 5-11 years. As for the under 6 month age group, the Italian Society of Pediatrics has already expressed itself favorably in theory, but in the absence of clinical studies the only possible alternative is to vaccinate the mother, an approach that has already proved effective and safe “. “These observations – points out the former Ema director – would in themselves be sufficient to decide to vaccinate all children under 12 years of age. It will therefore only be necessary to wait for the response of the EMA to verify the benefit / risk ratio and the availability of the vaccine in a pediatric dose. However – recalls Rasi – it is important and ethical to be aware that a non-immunized pediatric population would constitute both a danger for the rest of the population and a golden opportunity for the virus to circulate and encourage the onset of new variants. In fact, we know that only a coverage of about 85% of the population would guarantee us a return to (almost) normal life. We have also learned that this 85% must be homogeneous by population group and by territory “.