The Standing Vaccination Commission now generally recommends a Covid vaccination for five to eleven year olds.
(Photo: dpa)
Frankfurt The Standing Vaccination Committee (Stiko) today updated its vaccination recommendation for five to eleven-year-old children: In general, healthy children in this age group should now first receive a Covid-19 vaccination. The Biontech active ingredient Comirnaty should preferably be used, as there is more data on this vaccine than on the Moderna vaccine Spikevax. However, the use of the Moderna vaccine is also possible, according to the Stiko.
The commission is issuing this vaccination recommendation as a precaution because a renewed increase in SARS-CoV-2 infections is to be expected in the coming autumn or winter. The vaccination of children and young people is intended to build up basic immunity and prevent rare, serious Covid-19 diseases and hospital admissions in the population. Another goal is to reduce the indirect consequences of the infections, such as isolation and quarantine phases, in the pandemic that has been going on for more than two years.
New data shows that a corona infection that has gone through is not sufficient to prevent later Covid 19 diseases, according to the Stiko statement. Solid protection against infection and serious illness can only be achieved by repeatedly dealing with the Sars-CoV-2 spike protein. In late summer, the Commission wants to reassess the situation.
So far, the commission had not given any general vaccination recommendation for the five to eleven year old age group, partly because Sars-Cov-2 infections in children are rather mild. Primary immunization with two vaccinations was only planned for children who had contact with non-vaccinable risk persons. A booster vaccination was also recommended for children with pre-existing conditions.
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As announced, Stiko has now reassessed the data situation, because since the approval of the mRNA vaccines from Biontech at the end of 2021 and Moderna in February of this year, the infection situation has changed significantly due to the spread of the omicron variant.
50 percent of all children have already been infected with Corona
Especially in the omicron infection wave, many children have been infected with Sars-Cov-2. The highest incidences were reported in the age group of five to eleven year old children. According to data from confirmed PCR tests sent to the Robert Koch Institute, almost 50 percent of all children in this age group had a Sars-CoV-2 infection by mid-April. Due to the assumed high number of unreported cases, Stiko assumes that more than 80 percent of children in this age group have been infected with the virus.
That is why so-called hybrid immunity can be achieved in the majority of children through vaccination, Stiko expects. This combination of naturally acquired immunity after an infection and vaccine-induced immunity offers better protection against infections with previously known virus variants than infection or vaccination alone, the statement says. The broader immune response may also provide better protection against new variants.
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Stiko recommends administering the vaccination no earlier than three months after a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. According to the Stiko, healthy children who have already received two vaccinations should not be vaccinated again for the time being.
Children with previous illnesses should continue to receive basic immunization with two vaccinations and a booster vaccination. And children in close contact with people at risk who cannot be vaccinated should also continue to receive basic immunization with two vaccine doses.
Unvaccinated people are at higher risk of transmission
So far there is little data on the transmission of infection from vaccinated compared to unvaccinated people. A study from Denmark shows that unvaccinated people have a seven to 21 percent higher risk of transmission of the omicron variant than people with basic immunization.
Overall, according to the data available so far, the Covid-19 vaccination for children is considered safe and effective. The most commonly reported side effects include fever, pain at the injection site, fatigue or headache.
For the older children from twelve to 17 years, the recommendation of a basic immunization with two vaccine doses of Comirnaty from 30 micrograms and a booster vaccination still applies. A Covid-19 vaccine for children under five has not yet been approved.
For all children, Stiko wants to check again in late summer, before the number of infections increases again, whether basic immunization through vaccination or a booster vaccination is necessary.
More: Study data from Biontech: Covid vaccination for young children is approaching