FRANKFURT –
Germany’s vaccine advisory board on Tuesday said one shot of COVID-19 is enough for healthy 5 to 11-year-olds because most of them have experienced an episode of infection, possibly undetected. presently.
The view of the panel of 18 designees known as STIKO is in contrast to the approval of European Union regulators for a two-shot regimen in that age group. US regulators last week even authorized a third or reinforcement for the group.
“For children, we have to assume that the rate of infection is highest. That’s why just one shot of the vaccine makes sense,” STIKO board member Martin Terhardt said in a statement. a press conference.
The previous position of the expert panel on age groups, published in December, was to restrict vaccination to those at risk of developing severe COVID-19 or to those living with someone at risk, caused criticism at the time for not keeping up with the pace of the coronavirus.
Children at high risk of developing severe COVID-19 should get three shots, and those living with someone at risk should get two, the team added on Tuesday, the expert group said.
It doesn’t highlight any downsides of giving more shots. Instead, it said the risk of vaccination-induced heart inflammation appeared to be markedly lower for younger children than it was for young adults over 12 or young adults.
An estimated 77.5% of children aged 5 to 11 years in Germany have acquired some immunity against the virus through known and undetected infections or through vaccination, the panel said. know in a document posted online.
STIKO says the preferred product is children’s versions of BioNTech and Pfizer Comirnaty, but Moderna’s product is another option for those six and older.
