"Considering that the SARS-CoV2 infection will persist for years, it is important that all children are vaccinated today": is the appeal launched by the Health Commission of the National Academy of Lincei and the Italian Society of Pediatrics, who have drawn up a document joint in which they underline the importance of Covid-19 vaccination for children between 5 and 11 years and stigmatize the dissemination of false information on the risk-benefit ratio.
In this age group only 30% completed the vaccination course and only 37% received the first dose.
The document states that many parents do not realize the risks of the serious disease and complications of Covid-19 and are therefore reluctant to vaccinate their children, and also focuses on the negative effects of misinformation put in place by people without knowledge. scientific studies, which can promote the spread of the pandemic.
"To this end - reads the document - the most important role for children aged 5-11 is that of pediatricians, who can provide answers to the questions and doubts raised by parents".
The two scientific institutions recall that, although the infection in pediatric age presents with reduced symptoms, even children can develop severe forms or face possible complications of Covid-19, such as multi-systemic inflammatory syndrome (inflammatory response that can occur 2 to 6 weeks after the infection) and Long Covid.
In Italy, the latest report from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) has documented, from the beginning of the pandemic until February 16, 2022, 1,441,373 cases in the age group under 12, 9,308 hospitalizations in ordinary wards, 176 in therapy intensive and 26 deaths.
"The best place to vaccinate children could be the school" continues the appeal.
"For them, in fact, after their home, the school is the most familiar location, and hesitant parents could be persuaded to have their child vaccinated after seeing that their classmates, once vaccinated, did not present any problems".
The safety of the vaccine has been demonstrated in clinical studies that have led to its approval by the Regulatory Agencies and above all it has been widely confirmed by a US Report that refers to data relating to about 9 million children who have been given the vaccination. .
Similar results have just been published in the Aifa (Italian Medicines Agency) annual report on the safety of anti-Covid vaccines.