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So far, the corona vaccination has only been approved for children aged 12 and over
Photo: VioletaStoimenova / Getty Images
Pediatricians are currently still very critical of corona vaccinations for under 12-year-olds.
This also applies to children in the age group who have an increased risk of a severe Covid-19 course due to previous illnesses.
So far, the corona vaccination is only recommended for children from the age of twelve, it is not even approved for younger children.
"In no case are we in favor of an off-label vaccination," said Jörg Dötsch, Director of the Clinic for Children and Adolescent Medicine at the University Clinic in Cologne. This is the use of a drug outside of the range for which it is approved. In the context of such off-label use, it would theoretically be conceivable that doctors would vaccinate particularly vulnerable children under the age of twelve against the coronavirus now.
However, Dötsch currently sees a completely different group of people responsible. “We have around 17 million adults who have not been vaccinated for the first time. There's the problem, ”he said at a press briefing from the Science Media Center (SMC) on Monday. "Adults have a duty to help protect people who cannot be vaccinated and who are ultimately at risk." Dötsch is President of the German Society for Child and Adolescent Medicine (DGKJ).
Overall, severe courses of the disease in children are so rare that it took many weeks for the group of 12 to 17-year-olds after approval for the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) to have a clear conscience and based on sufficiently good data for could pronounce the vaccination, so Dötsch.
This assessment must also be awaited for younger children.
The decisive factor for a Stiko recommendation is that the individual benefit of the vaccination outweighs the risk.
Particularly at risk: children who are very overweight
According to Dötsch, the current experience in the clinics shows that children only very rarely become seriously ill, even with increasing incidences.
There are currently more infections among children who are in hospital.
"Fortunately, only the smear is positive in nine out of ten children and they were actually admitted because of another disease, such as appendicitis," says the doctor.
It is also positive that the disease can be treated much better with today's knowledge than at the beginning of the pandemic.
Also in children with certain chronic pre-existing conditions, the risk of more severe Covid-19 courses increases.
These are mainly diseases that affect several organs - such as trisomy 21, explained Dötsch.
Children who are very overweight are also at greater risk.
However, the expert does not yet recommend vaccination even for these groups.
"We shouldn't get overactive at this point," he said.
The first registration dates for six to eleven year olds could be available as early as the end of September.
For younger children, they are expected in late October.
Then it is necessary to await the possible approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and a recommendation from the Standing Vaccination Commission, demands Dötsch.
More targeted quarantine regulations in schools
In addition to reluctance to vaccinate, the expert also advocates more targeted quarantine regulations in schools.
In some federal states, it is already being checked whether only the infected child is being sent to quarantine and the rest can continue to go to school.
If this is implemented carefully and in a controlled manner, it is “all in all a good way”.
"It is then very important that the rest of the class is tested well and that the control function is not lost here," added Dötsch.
Then it could be a measure that combines two things: “On the one hand, to stop the chain of infection at an early stage.
Earlier than you would stop it if you waited for the symptoms, ”said Dötsch.
"And secondly, to continue teaching everyone else who doesn't have the virus."
irb / dpa