Should children be vaccinated against COVID-19?
On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that coronavirus vaccines for children aged 15 to 18 will start from January 3. Additionally, Bharat Biotech's Covaxin was granted emergency use approval for children between the ages of 12 and 18 by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
While many parents have breathed a sigh of relief, many are concerned. The debate around whether to vaccinate children against COVID-19 or not has been ongoing, not just in India, but around the world. In a recent clip, a US virologist and immunologist Dr Robert Malone claims that COVID vaccines may not be safe for kids, which has stirred concerns everywhere. Let us take a look at the details.
Read also: Some doctors feel there is no need to vaccinate kids against COVID: We find out why
The claim
In a filmed statement by Dr Robert Malone, a US virologist and immunologist, talks about the downsides of vaccinating kids against COVID-19. Malone has previously claimed to be the 'inventor' of mRNA vaccines and is associated with several misleading misinformation around the same, for which he has been called out as a vaccine skeptic.
The most recent video by him, circulated on social platforms, suggests that vaccinating kids against COVID-19 is not safe.
According to the virologist, mRNA vaccines “force your child’s body to make toxic spike proteins”, and these proteins “often cause permanent damage in children’s critical organs”.
“There is no benefit for your children or your family to be vaccinating your children against the small risks of the virus, given the known health risks of the vaccine that as a parent, you and your children may have to live with for the rest of their lives”, he adds.
This has stirred a debate between those who support the claim versus those who believe in the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.
Why is it concerning?
The infectious disease researcher who is a vaccine scientist also seems to be a true skeptic of the same. His claims around COVID vaccines for kids come at a time when countries around the world are looking forward to rolling out shots for children soon.
Amid the Omicron outbreak, India recently announced the roll out of coronavirus vaccines for all children between the ages of 15 to 18.
Many doctors and experts in the country have taken to social platforms demanding against the vaccination of young children. While some claim that children have a robust immune response against the novel coronavirus, others believe that the majority of the Indian population have naturally acquired immunity from the second COVID wave, which makes them safe from the Omicron variant, said to be 'mild' so far.
How scientifically true are the claims?
According to several fact-checking organizations and experts, the claims made by Dr. Malone are incorrect and go against the vaccine efficacy and safety data provided by vaccine-manufacturing companies, from drug trials.
Earlier, a review published by Health Feedback in May 2021, invalidated similar claims stating that they are based on misrepresentations of results from studies that investigated the SARS-COV-2 spike protein and not the modified spike protein in vaccines. While the former can cause harm to the body, the latter is not alive or activated, which is why it clears off from the body in a few weeks.
Many support the argument and say that the spike protein in the COVID vaccines are 'toxic', as claimed by Dr. Malone.
Amid the Omicron outbreak, how vulnerable are kids?
As of now, the Omicron variant has largely been 'mild'. While Omicron death has been reported around the world, as compared to Delta, the WHO believes it to be milder.
When it comes to children, they're believed to combat COVID-19 better than any other age group. Up until now, there have been very low cases of severe illness among the young population. However, COVID-19 and its variants have been unpredictable since its onset, which is why we cannot rule out any possibilities.
Are COVID-19 vaccines for children the step ahead?
While COVID-19 vaccine skeptics demand against the vaccination of kids, we cannot overlook the scientific evidence provided by the authorities and vaccine-manufacturing companies.
Although little is known about how well the coronavirus vaccines will work among kids, what kind of side effects they're bound to experience and if they'll be protected against COVID infection, but experts believe that immunisation is key right now.
Apart from that, wearing your mask, maintaining social distance and following COVID-appropriate behavior is crucial.
India to launch COVID shots for kids soon; what should parents know
On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that from January 3, next year, children between the ages 15-18 will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.
Currently, only those who are 18 and above were allowed to get vaccinated.
Currently, only two coronavirus vaccines have been approved for kids. In August, Zydus Cadila’s three-dose DNA shot was permitted to be used on adults and children over the age of 12 and in October Bharat Biotech's Covaxin got a nod from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use on kids between the ages of 12 and 18.