Children should stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines

Uptake of COVID-19 vaccine among children 12–17 years of age is high (~80 percent) in Singapore, but for the 5–11-year age group, it is less than 30 percent. This could have been driven in part by vaccine hesitancy among parents. [Front Pediatr 2022;10:994675]

It is therefore imperative to build parents’ trust to overcome vaccine hesitancy, said Associate Professor Chong Chia Yin from KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, during a Moderna-sponsored symposium at SiPPAC 2023. “Parents’ trust in their child’s doctor was the most significant factor in determining vaccine nonhesitancy among parents.”

Additionally, public awareness should be increased to improve vaccine uptake, said Professor Chiu Cheng-Hsun from Chang Gung Children’s Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taiwan, who spoke at the same symposium. He identified the danger signs of severe COVID-19 in children to help improve public awareness and encourage vaccine uptake in this population.

“Convenient and easy access to vaccines must also be provided, as well as access to robust scientific evidence to ease vaccine hesitancy,” added Chiu.

The need for updated vaccines
Completing the COVID-19 primary vaccine series provides protection for the first 4 months after vaccination. Children should stay up to date with their recommended COVID-19 vaccine, including completing the primary series. Those eligible should receive a bivalent vaccine dose. There is added protection against infection and death from Omicron BA.4/BA.5 sublineages with a bivalent booster. [MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:145-152]

Chong said there is a compelling need for an updated vaccine. “However, we still need to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated until an updated vaccine becomes available,” she added.

Takeaways
·       COVID-19 is a significant illness that can result in croup, neurological complications, multisystem inflammatory syndrome, and long COVID in children. Clinicians should administer the most updated vaccine available.
·       Vaccination against COVID-19 is safe and is a more reliable way to build protection than being infected with the disease. Even in those who had past COVID, vaccination can offer added protection, including against hospitalization due to re-infection.
·       Overall, people are best protected if they are up to date with their vaccinations.