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Kids’ vaccination decision in 1-2 weeks

15 Jul 2021

  • FHB has insufficient evidence so far
  • Children can transmit to adults
BY Buddhika Samaraweera The health authorities are to reach a final decision regarding the administration of Covid-19 vaccines to children within one to two weeks, according to the Ministry of Health’s Family Health Bureau (FHB). When contacted by The Morning to inquire about the progress of discussions pertaining to providing children with Covid-19 vaccines, FHB Director of Maternal and Child Health Services Dr. Chithramalee de Silva said the possibility of administering Covid-19 vaccines to children is still being studied. “There have been a number of requests for the provision of Covid-19 vaccines to children, but no final decision has been made as there is insufficient evidence. However, a final decision in this regard is expected in a week or two,” she added. Meanwhile, when contacted by The Morning to inquire about the importance of vaccinating children, Royal Free Hospital and University College London Centre for Immunodeficiency Consultant in Clinical Immunology and Allergy Prof. Suranjith Seneviratne said that children infected with Covid-19 are less likely to have serious complications, but that it is nonetheless important to administer Covid-19 vaccines to them as they could transmit the virus to adults. He pointed out that children infected with Covid-19 usually show mild complications, but that some may experience serious complications. However, he reiterated that children, even with mild complications, could spread the virus to adults. Older children transmit the virus faster than younger children and young children are more likely to become infected with the virus, he explained. Speaking further, Prof. Seneviratne added that Covid-19 vaccines need to undergo appropriate clinical trials as far as administration to children is concerned, and then be authorised and approved for use by global regulatory bodies (such as the US Food and Drug Administration, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, the European Medicines Agency, and the World Health Organisation) and then by the relevant national authorities.


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