American experts recommend vaccines against Moderna and Pfizer for young children

AFP, Released on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 10:20 pm.

An important step was taken in the United States on Wednesday to vaccinate infants and children against Covit-19, with the positive recommendation of experts to recognize the vaccines of Moderna and Pfizer from the age of 6 months.

During live discussions on the Internet, members of this advisory panel reviewed all data from clinical trials conducted in Pfizer for children aged six months to 4 years and in Moderna for children aged six months to 5 years.

As in many countries, this is the last age group to have access to this protection.

In two polls, 21 experts unanimously agreed that the benefits of vaccinating children with Moderna and Pfizer outweigh the risks.

“I know a lot of relaxed parents are listening to what we have to say today,” commented Jay Portnoy, one of the team members.

Based on these comments, the US Drugs Agency (FDA) is now responsible for granting its official recognition to the world of its results.

The U.S. government says some 10 million doses will be sent immediately to all four corners of the country, with millions more in the coming weeks.

Once the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approves, vaccinations can begin as early as next Tuesday. CDC experts will meet with them this Friday and Saturday.

– Pfizer in three sizes –

The dosage of these vaccines has been modified: it is modern (25 micrograms, against 100 for adults), and one-tenth (3 micrograms, against 30) for Pfizer, a quarter of adults.

The main difference between the two products is the number of shots required: the Moderna vaccine is still given in two doses at one-month intervals. However, a Moderna representative said the studies were already planned for a booster dose.

Pfizer’s medication is made immediately in three injections, two doses do not stimulate adequate immunity due to low doses. The first two injections of Pfizer will be given at three-week intervals, and the third second injection will be given eight weeks later.

Many experts have stressed that it is important for parents to know that their children will not be adequately protected after two doses of Pfizer, and that they should wait for three doses – so many months -.

Both vaccines are safe and effective, according to the FDA, which released its own analysis of clinical trials last weekend, which provides the basis for discussion among experts.

According to preliminary estimates, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was found to be 80% effective against symptomatic forms of the disease. But this figure is based on the very low number of positive cases eligible for the FDA.

Moderna vaccine has been shown to be effective in 51% of children between 6 months and 2 years of age and 37% of children between 2 and 5 years of age. According to the U.S. agency, these figures are consistent with the performance observed in adults against the Omigron variant. However, the vaccine continues to protect them against the serious cases of Govt-19.

– Impatience or doubt –

In terms of side effects, a quarter of young children who receive Moderna develop the flu, especially after the second dose. It usually subsides after a day.

In Pfizer, the fever rate was comparable between vaccinated children and those receiving placebo.

While some parents are eagerly anticipating the possibility of vaccinating their young offspring, others will no doubt be skeptical. According to a May poll, only one in five children (18%) under the age of 5 would want to be vaccinated as soon as possible.

About 480 children under the age of 4 have died in the United States, despite the fact that young people are less likely to be infected with Covit-19.

Hospital admissions rates for these ages also increased drastically during the wave associated with the Omicron variant. In all, 45,000 children under the age of five have been hospitalized in the United States since the outbreak, and a quarter of them had to be admitted to intensive care.

As with adults, children with Govit-19 can develop chronic symptoms (Govit Long). In rare cases, they can also develop into severe cases of pediatric polycystic ovary syndrome.