The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone ages 5 and older get a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against COVID-19.

Overview

In Pakistan, Covid-19 cases have decreased substantially and we are slowly moving towards the pre-corona era, but the pandemic is still not over. It is recommended to get yourself and your children protected against COVID-19.

Today, Dr. Hanif Kamal – Child Specialist and Pediatrician will be providing awareness about Covid-19 vaccination for children aged 12 to 17.  Vaccination is the safest way to protect everyone who is eligible for COVID-19. Children aged 12 to 17 can get vaccinated against COVID-19. As Dr. Hanif says, “Currently, the most susceptible population is youth and they should get vaccinated as soon as possible”. The Delta variant of coronavirus has mostly affected the younger population and as the fifth wave is suspected, it is recommended to get an age-appropriate dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children above 5.

Children with underlying medical conditions can get infected with the virus and develop serious complications like multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C)—a condition where different body parts become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs.

Covid-19 Symptoms in Children

The general symptoms of COVID-19 are the same in children as adults, though some infected children may not have any signs of being sick at all. The common symptoms might include:

• Fever and Cough
• Shortness of Breath
• Pneumonia
• Sore Throat
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Congestion

Dr. Hanif adds, “Corona itself is a frightening experience for children. Being quarantined for a specific amount of time can lead to psychiatric issues in kids and teens.”

Which Covid-19 Vaccine is Safe for Children?

The FDA and the U.S Government gave the Pfizer-BioNTechCOVID-19 vaccine emergency authorization to use in children ages 5 to 17 years old. It is considered the safest and effective vaccine available for children with 98% efficacy after two doses.

Every vaccine has a side-effect and so does theCovid-19 vaccine. Some side effects happen right after the shot, like mild pain in the arm and others may take hours to develop.  The side-effects might include: pain, redness, fatigue, headache, chills, joint pain, swelling, fever, body ache etc. This is a sign that the vaccine is working and producing anti-bodies.

However, Dr. Hanif mentions that there is one side-effect of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination of children ages 12 to17 years which is called myocarditis and pericarditis – a condition that causes inflammation of the heart muscle. These reactions are rare and affect one to three in 100,000 recipients.  

Dr. Hanif explains, “The side-effects after the1st dose are normal but after the 2^nd dose might be severe”. It is recommended to visit the doctor if the symptoms seem to be serious in children. Usually, the doctor suggests taking the safest medication which isPanadol, according to the doctor’s prescription.  

Children with cancer treatments like chemotherapy (chemo), radiation, stem cell or bone marrow transplant, or immunotherapy have weak immune systems and are at risk for severe COVID-19 disease, so getting some protection from the vaccine is better than not having any protection. Therefore, it is advised to the parents by medical experts to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Myths

Different myths have been surrounding theCovid-19 vaccine and its development such as it will alter the DNA, causes infertility, includes a tracking device, and has severe side-effects, causes Covid-19 and many more.

Dr. Hanif clears the misinformation and tells that vaccines are medications that prevent infection. He further gives a definition of a vaccination, “A vaccine is a substance containing a harmless form of a particular disease. It is given to people to prevent them from getting that disease”.

Conclusion

Though COVID-19 has been initially milder in the younger population, in rare cases, children infected with the coronavirus can develop a serious lung infection and become very sick with COVID-19.

It is advised to the parents, to follow WHO and CDC guidelines for Covid-19 vaccination in children. It will not only prevent children from getting Covid-19 but will reduce the spread of the virus and stop or reduce other variants from emerging. It is the responsibility of the parents to help protect their family and the community to slow the spread of COVID-19by getting themselves and their children ages 5 years and older vaccinated against COVID-19 and following Covid-19 precautions to reduce the chance of getting infected.

To book an online or physical appointment with Child SpecialistDr. Hanif Kamal click on the link https://www.shifaam.com/doctors/karachi/pediatrician-child-specialist/hanif-kamal-10811. You can also visit us on www.shifaam.com or download the Shifaam HealthApp now from Google Play(bit.ly/2JqZo3C) or the iOS App Store (apple.co/2QUVxQz) for all your healthcare needs.