Ahead of the expansion of the vaccine for children aged 11-5 in Israel, Dr. Itai Pesach, director of the Safra Children's Hospital in Sheba, answers burning questions regarding children's vaccines against Corona.
How significant are children's vaccines?
In the short term it will have great significance for those children who are vaccinated, in that they end a great period of anxiety and fear of isolation.
In my estimation, it will take time for parents to be persuaded and vaccinated, but in the medium and long term this will have implications for the continuation of the epidemic.
I do not like the phrase "herd immunity", but it is clear that the ability to control disease goes through keeping as many people protected as possible.
When will they start vaccinating in Israel?
In my estimation, they will start vaccinating a few days after the decision of the experts in the country is made.
HMOs are ready to start, and I think it will take about two weeks from the decision.
What about side effects?
In an FDA discussion, it appears that in this age group, the profile of side effects does not differ from 12 to 16. Fever, joint pain, general malaise, and lack of significant side effects.
Is there justification for childhood vaccines?
Although the prevalence of hospitalizations for one in 3,000 people infected with corona sounds small, it is not really so.
One in 3,000 go to hospitals, but a third of children hospitalized in the United States also go to intensive care.
Why would parents want to get vaccinated?
Just because there is a green classroom does not mean that children will not be isolated.
In the long run the more people are vaccinated - this thing will be behind us.
Does it matter to you if there is a recommendation from the experts in Israel to vaccinate?
In my opinion, if the statement is that it can be vaccinated it will mostly be confusing.
The decision and responsibility lies with the parents.
The responsibility of the person recommending should be wholehearted.
What about recovering people?
There are no clear answers yet about recoverers, but I think that as in the other groups in the population, the decision regarding recoverers will be made not in the first stage but after there is more data.
