Title: Multisite Analysis Shows COVID-19 Vaccines Provide Protection for Young Children, Heartland Magazine Reports
In an encouraging development in the fight against COVID-19, a recent multisite analysis conducted by the VISION Network has found that complete primary mRNA vaccination provides protection against severe encounters such as emergency department (ED) visits and urgent care (UC) visits in young children. The analysis highlights the importance of vaccination, emphasizing that staying up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccines is crucial for children’s well-being.
The analysis revealed that children who had received a complete primary series of at least one bivalent vaccine dose, 14 days prior, were provided with 80% protection. However, the estimate was imprecise due to the low number of children who had received a bivalent dose. On the other hand, single doses of monovalent Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines did not provide sufficient protection.
The study also emphasized the significance of receiving updated vaccines, as the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants had substantially evolved from the strain included in the original monovalent vaccines by the time young children became eligible.
Previous data indicated that two doses of the monovalent vaccine had an effectiveness of 37% for children aged 6 months to 4 years (Pfizer-BioNTech) and 29% for those aged 6 months to 5 years (Moderna). However, the current analysis showed even higher effectiveness for children who had completed their primary series.
Despite the positive outcomes, the analysis has its limitations, including differences in product-specific vaccine effectiveness estimates, low vaccination coverage among young children, low rates of severe outcomes assessed, and the inability to control for previous infection.
According to the analysis, approximately 10% of children aged 2-4 years had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, and only 6.1% had completed their primary series as of May 2023. These numbers highlight the need for increased vaccination efforts among young children.
Heartland Magazine emphasizes the importance of public health practices, stating that all children should stay up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccines and initiate vaccination immediately when eligible. By doing so, we can collectively protect our young ones and mitigate the spread of the virus within our communities.
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