The mortality rate of children with COVID-19 disease is close to influenza

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The mortality rate of children with COVID-19 disease is close to that of influenza. Why do children need to be vaccinated?

The mortality rate of children with COVID-19 disease is close to that of influenza. Why do children need to be vaccinated? The president of the American Academy of Pediatrics made this explanation

Regarding children’s COVID-19 vaccination, the feedback from parents who will not vaccinate their children with COVID-19 can be roughly divided into the following categories:

Not necessary in the current epidemic;
The fatality rate of children with COVID-19 is extremely low, similar to that of influenza;
The long-term side effects of mRNA are unknown, so I don’t want children to take risks;
Although the current vaccine is very safe, there are still rare serious adverse reactions.

The reasons why many parents do not vaccinate their children with the COVID-19 vaccine are roughly as follows:

1) The infection rate of children with COVID-19 is low;

2) According to the children’s COVID-19 report in the United Kingdom, in the first year of the COVID-19 epidemic, 25 children died of illness, most of them children with serious underlying diseases;

3) After mRNA vaccination, the rate of myocarditis in boys is relatively high.

According to the most recent report by the American Academy of Children (October 25), the fatality rate for children from COVID-19 in the United States is 0.01%, which is indeed about the same as the fatality rate for children in the United States from influenza.

The mortality rate of children with COVID-19 disease is close to influenza
(Source: American Academy of Pediatrics report)

But now, many parents are eagerly looking forward to the approval and vaccination of the 5-11-year-old COVID-19 vaccine.

This is because:

1) The risk of children contracting COVID-19 is not low at all, and it has accounted for 1/4 of new cases in the United States in recent months;

2) The larger sample size shows that the safety of mRNA vaccines is very, very good.

3) The proportion of mRNA vaccination-associated myocarditis is much lower than expected earlier, and this myocarditis is more like a transient immune response, most of which completely recover within a week;

4) The dose of the newly approved Pfizer vaccine is only 1/3 that of adults, which means that the possibility of inducing myocarditis is further reduced.

The article published by Dr. Lee Savio Beers, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics in the New York Times, provides reference for parents who are hesitant.

The mortality rate of children with COVID-19 disease is close to influenza

Dr. Beers talks frankly:

It is normal for parents to be anxious about vaccinating their children. Some parents are anxiously waiting for approval and vaccination, but there are bound to be other parents who are hesitant.

This is because, like any medicine, vaccines also have side effects; especially compared with adults, the risk of severe COVID-19 and death in children is lower.

Indeed, according to the statistics of the CDC in the United States, if the 18-29 years old age group is used as a reference, the severe illness rate and the fatality rate of the elderly over 85 years old after being infected with COVID-19 are 15 times and 570 times that of young people in turn!

Of course, children are far lower than the critical illness and fatality rate of young people.

The mortality rate of children with COVID-19 disease is close to influenza (Picture source: US CDC)

According to the deaths that have occurred, the CDC report shows that as of October 20, 2021, the death rate of children infected with the COVID-19 in the United States is 2.9 times that of children with influenza, but it is 100 times that of the elderly over 85.

(Picture source: US CDC)

Although the number of severe cases or deaths of COVID-19 in children is much lower than that of adults, it does not mean that children are not at risk.

In the United States, 6.29 million children have been infected with COVID-19, and more than 23,000 children have been hospitalized (severely ill). According to the US CDC, more than 600 children under the age of 18 have died of COVID-19.

After a safe and effective vaccine suitable for children has been developed, the continued harm of COVID-19 to children is completely unacceptable.

(Source: American Academy of Pediatrics report)

Compared with 2020, children are currently more vulnerable to COVID-19. The main reason is that the COVID-19 virus has spread widely, the vaccination rate of adults is far lower than expected, the highly infectious Delta mutant strain has become the mainstream strain, and the requirement to wear masks has been cancelled in many places.

The significance of children’s vaccination, in addition to protecting the children themselves, also plays a vital role in ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Widespread vaccination of children will help build an immune barrier for the entire society, thereby reducing the harm of COVID-19 to everyone in the society.

For the most concerned about effectiveness and safety, Dr. Beers reassures parents. When the vaccine is approved for use in children, it means that the vaccine is already very effective and has very few side effects. Moreover, this is the result of weighing the pros and cons based on the epidemic.

For example, myocarditis associated with mRNA vaccines is more common in young men and after the second shot.

Dr. Beers talked about her considerations when confirming the vaccination with her teenage son.

The risk of COVID-19 infection is extremely high, or it is almost impossible to escape the pursuit of the new coronavirus without vaccination, and COVID-19 infection will induce a lot of complications; but in terms of myocarditis, COVID-19 infection-related myocarditis is Much higher than vaccination-related myocarditis.
The severity of vaccine-related myocarditis. Almost all vaccination-related myocarditis is mild, and most are discharged within a week.

The benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks of not being vaccinated, which became the key consideration for Dr. Beers in deciding to vaccinate his child.

If you still can’t figure it out, Dr. Beers advises parents to think about wearing safety helmets for their children or wearing seat belts in the car; vaccination is similar.

In fact, as mentioned earlier. Children’s vaccination is also the protection of their families, especially their parents. The pandemic has caused the loss of 140,000 American children.

The parents’ illness and the rescue process have also seriously affected the children’s psychology and life. Pediatrics across the United States have found that the proportion of children suffering from eating disorders, depression and suicide has increased significantly.

Finally, Dr. Beers once again admitted that the response to COVID-19 is far from perfect. American adults should take the responsibility and get vaccinated!

In order to protect children, parents should still get their children vaccinated against the COVID-19 as soon as possible; even if some parents do not want to be vaccinated themselves, please do not pit their children. . .

Dr. Beers believes that the vicious impact of COVID-19 on human society will last for several years, and children have been harmed; vaccination is one of the most important ways to protect children.

On October 26, 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expert team approved the use of the vaccine for children aged 5-11 years.
On November 2-3, the US CDC expert team will review.
If approved successfully, children aged 5-11 can make an appointment for COVID-19 vaccination on November 4-5.

Wish all children health and happiness!

References:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/26/opinion/covid-vaccine-kids.html#commentsContainer
https://www.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/children-and-covid-19-state-level-data-report/
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/investigations-discovery/hospitalization-death-by-age.html
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm#SexAndAge

The mortality rate of children with COVID-19 disease is close to influenza

(source:internet, reference only)

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