The COVID-19 vaccine race has focused on protecting the elderly and medically vulnerable before gradually moving to the rest of the adult population.
In the latest EU figures, 75.6% of the adult population of the block has been vaccinated and there are similar figures in the rest of Europe. So the question has become who will be next?
The goal has been to vaccinate as many children as possible to try to reduce the spread of the infection and variants in the community.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 12 to 15 in May this year, the first COVID-19 vaccine to be approved by the EU.
The authorization was based on a study with 2,259 children in the age group that showed that their immune response was comparable to that of the 16-25-year-old cohort.
None of the children who received the vaccine developed COVID-19, compared with 16 who developed COVID-19 after receiving a placebo.
The EMA approved the Modern Vaccine for use in the 12- to 17-year-old age group the following month. This time, a study of 3,732 children in this particular age group did not show any of those who received the COVID-19 vaccine compared to four in the placebo group.
Should children receive a vaccine against COVID?
There has been a debate about the merits of vaccinating children who do not have underlying conditions, as the chances of developing a serious disease from COVID-19 are quite low, and it must be balanced against the possible side effects of vaccine.
The EMA acknowledged that the limited number of both studies meant that they could not detect rare side effects. However, they concluded that the benefits of vaccines for this younger age group outweighed all possible negatives.
There has also been some concern about cases of myocarditis and pericarditis following the administration of mRNA vaccines.
A Harvard article in July, it was reported that there had been 1,000 cases after 300 million vaccinations in the United States after Pfizer or Moderna leaks. Most cases were in adolescents or young adults.
The article also says that 79% of these cases in young people were mild.
Although the European Medicines Regulator has approved vaccines for young people aged 12 to 18 in the last two months, not all EU governments or health agencies have followed suit.
However, many countries have begun to open their vaccination programs to children over 12 years of age. This is how they compare.
UK
The vaccination program for under-18s in the UK is just beginning to start in certain parts of the country. The four decentralized governments have taken slightly different approaches.
All 16- and 17-year-olds in England have started getting vaccinated from 23 August, while children aged 12 to 15 who are clinically vulnerable to COVID-19 or live with adults at higher risk of suffer serious illness from the virus invited to take a vaccine in the coming weeks.
In Northern Ireland, 16- and 17-year-olds have been able to access the vaccine for a few weeks.
When it comes to the 12- to 15-year-old age group who are not clinically vulnerable to COVID-19, the UK appears to be following a slightly different route than many of its European peers. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Vaccination recommended on Friday not to vaccinate children aged 12 to 15 years. They believe there is not enough evidence to recommend extending the launch to this group.
They concluded that with only two out of every million healthy children in need of intensive treatment for COVID-19, the benefits of vaccination were “insufficient to support a universal supply.”
However, the committee has left the door open for ministers to follow another path. They commented that it is not within their competence to consider broader issues such as the effect on the education sector and said ministers can seek advice elsewhere.
The opinions of the medical leaders of the four nations will now be taken into account, said the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and there are hopes that a policy will be formed across the UK next week.
Italy
Italy’s goal is to vaccinate most teens before they go back to school in September. Currently, 49.86% have received a dose and 28.39% are fully vaccinated according to the Italian government Vaccine report of August 24th.
From 16 August, young people aged 12 to 18 can get a vaccine without an appointment in order to increase uptake.
The Pfizer vaccine was licensed for 12- to 15-year-olds in late May, with reservations in most regions beginning in July, while the Modern jab was approved for 12- to 17-year-olds in early May. ‘August.
Germany
Initially, vaccines were only recommended for children with underlying conditions, but after the spread of the Delta variant, it was decided on August 16 to offer a vaccine to all children over 12 years of age.
The STIKO committee, the expert body that advises the German government on vaccines, said in a statement that the decision came after examining new safety data, especially from the US, following the vaccination of about 10 millions of teenagers.
They said that given “the current state of knowledge, the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risk of very rare side effects of the vaccine.”
There have been concerns about myocarditis, the very rare muscle inflammation of the heart observed in connection with vaccination, especially in vaccinated young males.
However, STIKO said most of these people went to the hospital and were treated successfully. They also stressed the overall risk of COVID-19 itself to heart health.
Ireland
Ireland has had a remarkably high vaccine uptake in the adult population.
More than 90% of adults over the age of 18 have had a dose and 84% have been completely vaccinated. The vaccination campaign is still ongoing, especially in the younger cohort, where it has only been fully open in recent weeks.
Now the country has started studying child vaccination. The portal to register a child aged 12 to 15 for a vaccine opened on August 11 and had more than 100,000 appointments arranged and more than 75,000 of them in the first 48 hours alone.
There are an estimated 248,000 children in this age cohort. On the first weekend of vaccinations, 30,000 children received a dose. The launch is underway.
Poland
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 19,008,598 people in the country have received at least one dose and 18,410,561 are fully vaccinated, representing just under half of Poland’s population.
Pfizer and Moderna have been approved for ages 12 and up, and the first was approved in June. Of the 12-17 year olds, 685,277 people were vaccinated with at least one dose on August 16 and 577,562 people were fully vaccinated, according to the Polish Ministry of Health.
France
France was one of the first countries to open vaccines for people over 12, doing so on 15 June.
More than 56% of young people aged 12 to 17 have already received at least one dose of vaccine, according to data published by Santé Publique France on August 19, while 32.4% are fully vaccinated.
From the end of September, children under the age of 18 will have to use the French health pass. This pass demonstrates the vaccine status of the holder or confirms that they have been tested in the last 72 hours and is required to access places such as cinemas or restaurants.
Although it has proven controversial, its introduction has had an absorption in vaccinations.
Spain
According to the latest health report from the Spanish Ministry of Health on August 20, 55.4% of the 3.9 million young people aged 12 to 19 in Spain have already received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
It is up to the regional authorities to decide whether or not to offer the vaccine to children under 18 years of age. As a result, different areas began to offer vaccines at different times.
Denmark
The Danish government breaks down its statistics differently, collecting data for an older age group between 10 and 19 years old. In this group, about 58.2% have received the first dose and 43.6% are completely vaccinated.
The Danish Health Authority gave the green light to vaccinating children aged 12 to 15 in June, and vaccinations began in July.
Swiss
Switzerland approved the Pfizer vaccine for children over 12 in early June.
According to the most recent Swiss health figures published on August 22, 150,000 people aged 10 to 19, 17.9% of the cohort, have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. It compares with 42.85% of the age group between 20 and 29 years.
Sweden
Sweden only began opening appointments for minors in August, and only for young people aged 16 to 18, with the 21 health regions to follow “over the next few months”.
Until now, children aged 12 to 15 are only eligible under special conditions, such as belonging to a high-risk group or living with vulnerable people.