How will the vaccination of children against Covid work? see what is known

Experts from several countries have already analyzed the application of the Covid-19 vaccine to children and concluded that it is not only safe but necessary.

Although the coronavirus affects adults more, the child population can also become infected, transmit the virus and become ill. For this reason, the health authorities of numerous countries approved the vaccination of children from 5 years of age, as has just been done by Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) in Brazil.

See what you already know about Anvisa’s decision.

vaccinate children is sure?

Yes. Anvisa carried out a rigorous technical analysis to assess whether research demonstrates the safety of the immunizing agent for children aged 5 years and over. Pfizer presented results of studies carried out with approximately 4,000 children that show an efficacy of 90% of the immunizing agent when applied to this group.

Available data show that it is far worse to fail to vaccinate a child than to give the injection. Specialists from Brazil and from several countries reached the same conclusion.

In the United States, for example, advisers to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) have said that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of the vaccine. Much of the fear for younger people about the vaccine in question stems from rare and mild cases of inflammation in the heart.

Is Anvisa’s decision enough?

Yes. With the decision of Anvisa, the package insert for immunizing products from Pfizer in Brazil will indicate this new age group. Until then, the manufacturer’s model was allowed to be used in the country only by people over 12 years of age.

Other countries have already released the vaccination of kids?

Yes. In early November, the United States authorized the use of Pfizer’s vaccine in children age 5 and older.

Also in November, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the application of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to children aged 5 to 11, an age group that has registered an increase in infections on the continent. This Wednesday (15), several countries in Europe began their campaigns for this age group. China released the immunizing agent for children aged 3 years and over.

When will the vaccination of children start in Brazil?

It is not known yet. The decision rests with the Ministry of Health. This should not happen immediately because the folder has not yet requested the purchase of specific doses for the age group. The forecast is to immunize 70 million children. Ministry managers estimate that doses will start arriving next month.

How will the immunization of children in Brazil be?

The resolution of Anvisa provides that children receive two doses of 10 micrograms within 21 days.

Are there any specific safety measures for vaccinating children?

The agency suggests, among other points, that the vaccination of children be started after the complete training of health teams and that it take place in specific places, different from adults.

The room must also be exclusive for the application of the Covid vaccine, and should not be used for the application of other vaccines, even pediatric ones.

As a precaution, Anvisa also advised that the Pfizer vaccine should not be administered concomitantly with others, even if on the children’s calendar.

Another orientation of the agency is not to use the drive-thru model in immunizing this public and that children remain at the vaccination sites for approximately 20 minutes after being immunized to monitor any adverse reaction.

Is the vaccine for children given in the same dose as for adults?

No. Pfizer’s vaccines applied to the 5 to 11 year age group and the older ones have the same active ingredient, but there are differences in composition. The dose intended for children is equivalent to one third of that indicated for the group aged 12 and over.

The bottle of the youngest immunizing agent has an orange coloration just to differentiate the product.

This vial of the children’s vaccine also holds more doses and can be stored for longer (up to ten weeks) at temperatures from 2°C to 8°C, an interval used in conventional SUS refrigerators. The other model remains for up to 31 days under these conditions.

Can children in this age group receive vaccines from other manufacturers in Brazil?

No. For now, only Pfizer has been released by Anvisa. But the agency has already received a new request from the Butantan Institute so that Coronavac can be used in children and teenagers from 3 to 17 years old. The evaluation period is up to 30 days.

What happens to turning 12 between the first and second dose?

Children who turn 12 years old between the first and second years should complete the cycle with the reduced dose.