Healthy children and adolescents probably don’t need it COVID-19 vaccinationsaccording to updated guidance published on the World Health Organization (WHO) website on Tuesday.
The WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) met last week to create a revised COVID vaccination roadmap.
The new roadmap defines three priority groups – high, medium and low – based on “risk of serious illness and death”. when contracting the virus.
Healthy children between 6 months and 17 years are now a low priority.
PREVIOUS COVID INFECTION PROVIDES JUST AS MUCH PROTECTION AS VACCINES, RESULTS OF NEW STUDIES
The agency said that for this group, “traditional essential vaccines” against diseases such as rotavirus, measles, polio and pneumococcal conjugate have a greater effect.
In the new roadmap, the agency also released updated guidance on COVID booster doses.
Healthy children and adolescents are unlikely to need COVID-19 vaccinations, according to updated guidance published on the World Health Organization’s website on Tuesday. (iStock)
“The revised roadmap has been updated to take into account that much of the population is either vaccinated or previously infected with COVID-19 or both older adults and those with underlying medical conditions, including additional booster shots,” said SAGE Chair Dr Hanna Nohynek in a press release on the WHO website.
Children with a weakened immune system or existing health problems should still be vaccinated.
“Countries should consider their specific context when deciding whether to continue vaccinating low-risk groups, such as healthy children and adolescentswithout jeopardizing the routine immunizations that are so critical to the health and well-being of this age group,” the doctor continued.
The WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) met last week to create a revised COVID vaccination roadmap. (Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
In the press release, SAGE encourages countries to consider factors such as “disease burden, cost-effectiveness and other health or programmatic priorities, and opportunity costs” when making decisions about immunization requirements for healthy children and adolescents.
Some children should still be vaccinated, WHO says
Children with weakened immune systems or existing health conditions should still get the COVID vaccine because of the higher risk of serious illness, the agency said.
COVID VACCINE UPDATE: FDA APPROVES PFIZER BOOSTER FOR SOME CHILDREN UNDER FIVE
In addition, it is recommended that infants under 6 months should receive the vaccine due to exposure to severe COVID-19 effects.
The instructions also require pregnant woman be fully vaccinated to fully protect both mother and fetus.
Healthy children aged 6 months to 17 years are now considered a ‘low priority’ for COVID vaccines, according to the WHO. (iStock)
dr Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical worker agreed that children and adolescents are a lower priority for this vaccine unless they have obesity or other chronic diseases or are at particular risk.
“The vaccine you received two or more years ago may be almost completely worn out by now.”
“However, this change in prioritization is not the same as saying they shouldn’t have the COVID vaccines,” he told Fox News Digital.
How many COVID vaccinations are enough?
“Recently, the question has been how many COVID vaccinations are enough,” continued Dr. seal away.
“The difficulty with universities mandating this is that the vaccine you had two or more years ago could be almost completely worn out by now.”
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“Natural immunity after infection needs to be included in the count of immune protection, as does the amount of COVID that is still present,” he added.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In addition, vaccination has recently been shown to reduce the risk of long-lasting COVID symptoms in all age groups, Dr. Seal.
“This means the vaccine remains a valuable tool,” he said.
Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released some updates to their childhood and adolescent vaccination schedule, including the addition of COVID-19 vaccines.
Source : www.foxnews.com