The Urgent Need for Vaccinating Children: Here’s Why It Matters

The term “herd immunity” has been a constant refrain over the past year. While we’re inching closer to achieving it, do we truly comprehend its significance? And is it realistically attainable when many individuals remain resistant to scientific guidance, refusing vaccination and mask-wearing? Here’s what medical professionals have to say.

Understanding Herd Immunity

So, what is herd immunity? As explained by the Mayo Clinic, “Herd immunity occurs when a significant portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, reducing the likelihood of its spread. Consequently, the entire community gains protection, not just those who are immune.” Achieving this is indeed possible, but we need more people to get vaccinated. Given the high number of adults who are decidedly against vaccination, it becomes crucial for children to receive their shots as well.

Reports indicate that many adults are postponing vaccination, with surveys revealing that one-fifth outright refuse it. According to The Atlantic, “If a significant portion of the population maintains this stance, vaccinating children will be critical for any hope of reaching herd immunity.”

The Risks of Unvaccinated Children

It’s important to recognize that children can transmit the virus. Having unvaccinated children congregating and then returning to their families poses a risk, particularly if some adults in those households are also unvaccinated. Moreover, the notion that “kids can’t get seriously ill from Covid-19” is a misconception. Although younger individuals may have generally fared better than older or immunocompromised people during this pandemic, kids can and do experience severe illness. Numerous stories have emerged of children being hospitalized, suffering long-term symptoms, or, tragically, even dying from Covid. The long-term effects of this virus on both adults and children remain unknown.

For these reasons, it is imperative to vaccinate as many children as possible, and quickly. However, parental hesitancy often stems from a lack of information about the vaccine. Medical experts attribute this opposition to a misunderstanding of the risks Covid-19 poses to children. While the likelihood of a child becoming severely ill with Covid-19 is lower than for adults, The Atlantic emphasizes that we should not view pediatric deaths in “relative terms” but rather in “absolute, concrete terms.”

“Hundreds of children have died from a preventable disease, and thousands have become seriously ill,” the article notes. “While we don’t know the exact number of children hospitalized due to Covid-19, around 14,000 have been recorded in just the 24 states that publicly share these statistics. The total for the U.S. would be much higher. Over 3,000 have developed a serious condition known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) in the weeks following a Covid-19 infection.” Dr. Sara Thompson, an infectious disease expert at City Hospital, has pointed out that “The number of children hospitalized and those who have died is significant and alarming.”

The Importance of Vaccination

The virus continues to mutate, but vaccines have shown effectiveness against new variants, making it even more vital to protect our children from the unknown. A study from January indicated that “hospitalization rates among individuals under 19 have surged more than eightfold during the pandemic.” Alarmingly, of those children who do require hospitalization, about one-third are admitted to intensive care. The percentage of hospitalized Covid-19 patients who are children has increased from 0.8 percent last May to 2 percent currently.

Thus, young people are not immune to Covid, and they must be vaccinated, as the virus is increasingly affecting them.

Comparing Covid-19 to Other Diseases

Consider this perspective from The New England Journal of Medicine: “Imagine a highly contagious virus circulating in the community. Many infected children may exhibit fever and general malaise but recover without issue. However, rare but severe complications can occur, leading to hospitalization, serious illness, and even death. Susceptible adults face worse outcomes. Would you want your child vaccinated against this disease? … You guessed correctly; we are talking about measles, right?”

But we are not discussing measles. We already vaccinate our children for measles, a disease that some children can endure with minimal consequences while others may succumb. A disease that was nearly eradicated thanks to vaccination efforts.

This article, authored by Dr. Lisa Green and Dr. James Parker, experts in pediatrics and infectious diseases, articulates that “Vaccinating children is likely to provide both direct (protecting children against rare severe cases of Covid-19 and post-infection conditions such as MIS-C) and indirect benefits (protecting others by curbing the virus’s spread). These indirect benefits also alleviate the burden of parental illness, economic hardships, and chronic stress.”

Dr. Green and Dr. Parker discuss the history of measles vaccination, highlighting how many parents were hesitant or resistant years ago, despite greater support for the polio vaccine. The reasoning? Many kids typically survived measles. Sound familiar?

The Current Landscape

Now, we stand at a crossroads with a vaccine ready to protect our children and help restore some normalcy to our lives; however, a substantial number of parents are choosing not to vaccinate their kids. This reluctance could turn the dream of “normalcy” and “herd immunity” into an ongoing challenge.

Currently, many Americans express skepticism regarding the safety of Covid-19 vaccines. This sentiment is understandable in an environment where mask-wearing has become politicized, and loud voices on social media cast doubt on the severity—or even the existence—of Covid-19.

We must amplify our voices against misinformation. It’s essential to share facts, medical research, and testimonies from pediatricians and infectious disease specialists who advocate for the safety and efficacy of the Covid vaccine. Experts like Dr. Jane Smith, an infectious disease specialist, assert, “Early reports indicate that the vaccine not only prompts a strong immune response but is also exceptionally safe for children and adolescents.” The vaccine is currently showing “100% efficacy and robust antibody responses.”

Dr. Smith adds, “Children’s immune systems, even in very young ones, typically respond vigorously to vaccines, which is impressive. The responses appear consistent with this Covid-19 vaccine. Ongoing trials are being conducted with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for children as young as six months, and I anticipate similar effectiveness in our youngest populations.”

Conclusion

In summary, the Covid vaccine is safe and effective. We must prioritize vaccinating as many individuals as possible—across all age groups—to truly return to our pre-pandemic lives.

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Summary: Vaccinating children is not just important for their health but for the greater health of society. Herd immunity is achievable but requires widespread vaccination, especially as many adults remain hesitant. Children can transmit Covid-19 and can become seriously ill. Medical experts emphasize the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, urging parents to protect their children for both direct and indirect benefits.

Keyphrase: Vaccinating children against Covid-19
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