TY - JOUR
AU - Rudan, Igor
AU - Adeloye, Davies
AU - Katikireddi, Srinivasa Vittal
AU - Murray, Josephine-Louise K.
AU - Simpson, Colin
AU - Shah, Syed Ahmar
AU - Robertson, Chris
AU - Sheikh, Aziz
AU - EAVE II Collaboration
PY - 2021
DA - December
TI - The COVID-19 pandemic in children and young people during 2020-2021: A complex discussion on vaccination
JO - Journal of Global Health
VL - 11
DO - https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.11.01011
AB - Vaccination of children and young people against COVID-19 remains highly debated, with considerable policy divergence internationally. Vaccinating younger age groups was not an initial plan when the original variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerged, because children and young people (CYP) seemed very mildly affected by COVID-19. However, new mutations led to increased virulence of the SARS-CoV-2. This led to an increase in the population threshold of vaccination coverage required for prevention of viral spread, possibly to levels above 80% vaccine uptake in the whole population. Also, due to the successful roll-out of vaccination to older and at-risk populations, the virus began to circulate in greater numbers amongst younger populations, which became a new concern. An important element was also the issue of harms unrelated to health, such as educational disruption. A broader perspective weighted the long-term educational benefits and shorter-term health issues. In addition, increasing awareness of the possible rare complications of COVID-19 in CYP and the “long COVID” syndrome prompted the scientific study and comparison of the risks of disease vs the safety of vaccination, even among the very young.
PB - International Society of Global Health
UR - https://pureportal.strath.ac.uk/en/publications/the-covid-19-pandemic-in-children-and-young-people-during-2020-20
KW - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
KW - Children, young people and families
KW - Immunisation and screening
ER