The number of confirmed cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Hong Kong is reaching new daily highs. Although Omicron infections are often mild, it still poses a significant threat to the elderly and children. Recently, there has been a case of a young girl dying from an Omicron infection, causing considerable worry among parents. The medical community is urging parents to get their children vaccinated as soon as possible, but many parents remain sceptical about the vaccine's side effects. Should children be vaccinated against COVID-19? And how significant are the vaccine's side effects in children? Let's take a look.
What is the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine for children?
Professor Lau Yu-lung's team from the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the University of Hong Kong has continued a series of studies on the Sinovac vaccine. Approximately 70 children aged 3 to 10 have been vaccinated with the Sinovac vaccine in the study. Preliminary results for 22 of these children show that after receiving two doses of the Sinovac vaccine, their neutralising antibody levels were higher than those observed in healthy adults aged 18 or above after receiving two doses of the Sinovac vaccine, and were comparable to adults who received three doses of the Sinovac vaccine.
Is it safe for children to get the Covid vaccine?
Safety. HKU Professor Lau Yu-lung points out that the traditional inactivated technology used by the CoronaVac vaccine is very safe. Currently, over 100 million doses of the CoronaVac vaccine have been administered to children under 12 years old in various countries, with no safety issues found. In studies of the CoronaVac vaccine conducted by Lau Yu-lung's team, no serious adverse reactions have been reported to date.
Does the COVID-19 vaccine have side effects for children?
Common side effects in children or adolescents after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine are similar to those in adults, mainly including: pain at the injection site, hardening at the injection site, redness at the injection site, nausea, cough, runny nose, fever, chills, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, dizziness, headache, fatigue, sore throat, joint pain, and so on.
Rare side effects include myocarditis or pericarditis. If you experience shortness of breath, palpitations, or chest pain, seek immediate medical attention.
Is my young child suitable for a COVID-19 vaccination?
If a child experiences mild discomfort, such as a fever or cold, they should wait 1 to 2 weeks after recovery before getting vaccinated.
If children have previously experienced severe allergic reactions to vaccines (such as anaphylaxis, angioedema, difficulty breathing, etc.), or have genetic disorders, they should consult a doctor before vaccination.
Check first, then inject
If parents wish to get their children vaccinated with greater peace of mind, children can undergo a medical examination and consultation first. This allows them to understand their child's current health status and suitability for vaccination, enabling the early detection of any potential underlying conditions or risks, before deciding whether to proceed with the inoculation.
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ref:
(Professor Yu-Lung Lau)
http://www.medicine.org.hk/hkps/hottalks.php
The Hong Kong Paediatric Society
