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information about coronavirus vaccines in children

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information about coronavirus vaccines in children

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A full list of the routine vaccinations offered on the NHS and when they should be given.

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The Importance of Childhood Vaccinations | UPMC HealthBeat

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Since the turn of the 20th century, medicine has rapidly progressed toward innovation and new scientific breakthroughs that help prolong our quality of life. During this time, vaccines have become a monumental development in the treatment of diseases and other illnesses. Ever since the introduction of vaccines in the 18th century, people have debated the benefits and risks of vaccination. While future vaccines have the potential to eradicate many illnesses from the world, a poorly concocted vaccine has the potential to have long-lasting side effects or other unknown issues. The possibility of harm causes understandable concern about how vaccines might hurt children who could otherwise live a healthy life. Therefore, the conversation around vaccine safety has shifted to focus primarily on whether vaccination is safe as a whole to whether parents should be required to vaccinate their children.

One of the main criticisms regarding vaccination of young children is the high levels of mercury and aluminum contained within the doses. Studies show that these metals can have neurotoxic effects on the nervous system and cause adverse effects on children during critical periods of brain development. Government-run, peer-reviewed studies on the toxicological profile of aluminum have shown that it can cross the placenta and accumulate in fetal tissue. This could mean that babies are being exposed to high doses of neurotoxic substances long after parents were made to believe that vaccines were purified and safe. While this information about vaccines raises valid concerns, these metals also serve a beneficial purpose as well. I will now discuss why vaccines contain metals and how these agents serve to increase the body's immune response.

There are many different components of vaccines that work in tandem to increase the body's immune response and reduce the overall risk for infection. On a basic level, most vaccines are made of water, an antigen (a small dose of the virus), aluminum (an adjuvant to increase the body's response) and sometimes thiomersal, a mercury-based preservative used to prevent contamination. Together, these ingredients produce immunity that protects people from life-threatening illnesses. As time progresses, the scientific community continues to fine-tune various components of vaccines to increase efficacy and reduce some of the negative side effects. At the present time mercury and aluminum based ingredients are necessary for the overall effect. And yet science continues to develop and research other replacements.

Another criticism is a common misconception among the masses that it is advantageous to build immunity by contracting the virus rather than by vaccination. However, this assumption could result in a more severe and contagious disease than the potential response to the vaccine. Additionally, if children can stay up-to-date with their vaccinations, it will strengthen future immunity since they will have the correct dosage spread out over optimal time for a maximized immune response. If enough children get vaccinated and stay up to date, the chance of infection decreases due to herd immunity. Herd immunity is the resistance to the spread of an infectious disease within a population that is based on pre-existing immunity of a high proportion of individuals due to previous infection or vaccination. Vaccination is extremely helpful since, without it, infection amongst the elderly and immunocompromised could prove fatal.

Lastly, some academics believe that vaccination could increase the likelihood of developing other neurological diseases. At first, this belief might seem credible since it is highly endorsed by the media. However, further analysis shows the neurological diseases shown to have been caused by vaccines aren't so well understood, so the claim is purely speculative. While it is true that depending on the person, negative side effects of vaccines could range from a mild cold with slight arm ache to a life-threatening allergic reaction, the latter only occurs at a minuscule rate of 1 in 1,000,000 cases. A Canadian-run cohort study on dementia also showed that vaccination against some easily preventable illnesses can decrease the chances of developing worse illnesses, such as Alzheimer's. Vaccines can have many benefits, some even spanning beyond the specific illnesses they are intended to treat.

Vaccination of children will continue to be a point of controversy as long as people remain uninformed about the proven benefits. The research to support vaccination points to many health benefits that will continue to protect children many years after vaccination. Although there are many proven advantages of vaccination, that doesn't mean that there isn't room for improvement. As science continues to develop, we should demand that vaccines continue to become safer and more effective. This will help to encourage more people to vaccinate their children and will ultimately contribute to a healthier society.

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Photo Caption: Child Receiving Vaccine
Photo Credit: Unsplash

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Should Vaccines Be Required for Children? - The Commentator

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Since the turn of the 20th century, medicine has rapidly progressed toward innovation and new scientific breakthroughs that help prolong our quality of life. During this time, vaccines have become a monumental development in the treatment of diseases and other illnesses. Ever since the introduction of vaccines in the 18th century, people have debated the ...

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you think you or your child have missed any vaccinations

you or your child have a vaccination appointment - but you've missed it or cannot attend

Your GP surgery can book or rearrange an appointment.

It's best to have vaccines on time, but you can still catch up on most vaccines if you miss them.

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A full list of the routine vaccinations offered on the NHS and when they should be given.

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CBS 42 House Calls: Necessary vaccines for your children

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You want to do what is best for your children. You know about the importance of car seats, baby gates, and other ways to keep them safe. But did you know that one of the best ways to protect your children is to make sure they have all of their vaccinations?

Immunizations can save your child's life. Because of advances in medical science, your child can be protected against more diseases than ever before. Some diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children have been eliminated completely, and others are close to extinction - primarily due to safe and effective vaccines. Polio is one example of the great impact that vaccines have had in the United States. Polio was once America's most-feared disease, causing death and paralysis across the country, but today, thanks to vaccination, there are no reports of polio in the United States.

Vaccination is very safe and effective. Vaccines are only given to children after a long and careful review by scientists, doctors, and healthcare professionals. Vaccines will involve some discomfort and may cause pain, redness, or tenderness at the site of injection, but this is minimal compared to the pain, discomfort, and trauma of the diseases these vaccines prevent. Serious side effects following vaccination, such as severe allergic reaction, are very rare. The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children.

Immunization protects others you care about. Children in the U.S. still get vaccine-preventable diseases. In fact, we have seen resurgences of measles and whooping cough (pertussis) over the past few years. Since 2010, there have been between 10,000 and 50,000 cases of whooping cough each year in the United States. About 10 to 20 babies, many of whom were too young to be fully vaccinated, died each year. While some babies are too young to be protected by vaccination, others may not be able to receive certain vaccinations due to severe allergies, weakened immune systems from conditions like leukemia, or other reasons. To help keep them safe, it is important that you and your children who can get vaccinated are fully immunized. This not only protects your family, but also helps prevent the spread of these diseases to your friends and loved ones.

Immunizations can save your family time and money. A child with a vaccine-preventable disease can be denied attendance at schools or childcare facilities. Some vaccine-preventable diseases can result in prolonged disabilities and can take a financial toll because of lost time at work, medical bills or long-term disability care. In contrast, getting vaccinated against these diseases is a good investment and usually covered by insurance. The Vaccines for Children program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children from low-income families. To find out more about the VFC program, visit https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/parents or ask your child's health care professional.

Immunization protects future generations. Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations ago. For example, smallpox vaccination eradicated that disease worldwide. Your children don't have to get smallpox shots anymore because the disease no longer exists. By vaccinating children against rubella (German measles), the risk that pregnant women will pass this virus on to their fetus or newborn has been dramatically decreased, and birth defects associated with that virus no longer are seen in the United States. If we continue vaccinating now, and vaccinating completely, parents in the future may be able to trust that some diseases of today will no longer be around to harm their children in the future.

For more information about National Infant Immunization Week, visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/index.html.

For more information about the importance of infant immunization, visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines.

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Five Important Reasons to Vaccinate Your Child

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You want to do what is best for your children. You know about the importance of car seats, baby gates and other ways to keep them safe. But, did you know that one of the best ways to protect your children is to make sure they have all of their vaccinations?

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Vaccines are recommended throughout your child's life to protect against serious, sometimes deadly diseases. Find out which vaccines are recommended for your child based on their age.

Stay on track with your child's vaccines

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Vaccines for Your Children: Protect Your Child at Every Age

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Vaccination is one of the best ways parents can protect infants, children, and teens from potentially harmful diseases.

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Infographic summarising the benefits of vaccines throughout a person's life.

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Infographic summarising the protection that vaccines provide throughout life for a range of diseases.

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We are in the midst of a measles epidemic. As of July 25th, more than 1,100 cases have been reported in 30 states since the beginning of the year. That's the highest number since 1992 - and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000. Given that measles is extremely contagious - the virus can linger in rooms even after a sick person has left - and can lead to serious complications, this is really alarming.

There is a simple way to help: get more people immunized.

How many children receive vaccines?

Most children in the US are immunized. Only a little more than 1% of children have no immunizations. This is important not only for the children who are immunized, but also for those around them who either cannot be immunized - because they are too young, or because they have a problem with their immune system that prevents it - or have not been immunized. Having enough immunized people around stops a virus like measles from spreading. For measles, this "community" or "herd" immunity exists when around 95% of the people are immune. When clusters of people aren't immunized, this allows cases, usually brought in from other countries where a virus like measles is more common, to spread.

Fear spreads as easily as measles does. People hear something about a vaccine that worries them, and they tell their friends and family. With social media, fear can spread even more quickly and broadly. Once you are afraid, it's hard to get unafraid. And on the internet, all information - whether based on scientific studies or not - is equally available. Agreeing to vaccines requires a choice to do something; it requires action, and when parents get afraid, it can seem easier to just not take action.

The consequences, though, can be deadly - not just for the unimmunized child, but for those around them. The vaccine decision isn't just an individual one; it affects whole communities.

Why are parents hesitant to vaccinate?

I have been a pediatrician for 28 years. I talk to a lot of parents who are hesitant to vaccinate. Here's what they tell me they worry about:

Side effects. It's certainly true that vaccines can have side effects. Any medical treatment can have a side effect. With vaccines, the most common side effects are mild, like soreness where the needle went in, or a slight fever. Serious side effects are rare. There is a database, called the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System, which keeps track of all reported side effects. The information is publicly available, and I always encourage parents to look at it.

Autism is not a side effect of vaccines. I can understand why people might look at vaccines as a possible cause of autism. The symptoms of autism become apparent early in life, which is a time when we are giving a lot of vaccines (since infants are very vulnerable to infections). But this has been researched extensively, and there has been no link found. There are lots of other things going on during pregnancy and those first couple of years, and hopefully we will find the cause of autism soon. But it's not vaccines.

Additives. The worry used to be about thimerosal, a preservative that contains mercury. While its use was never linked to autism or any other problem, it was removed from everything except multi-dose vials of the flu vaccine out of an abundance of caution. Thimerosal-free versions of the flu vaccine are available if you're concerned. Now the worry is about other additives, such as aluminum, that are added to keep vaccines safe and make them work better. Before getting alarmed about additives, it's important to learn about them - because once people do, they are usually reassured. I encourage people to read about additives, and to make sure all their questions are answered.

Overwhelming the immune system. It's true that we give more shots to babies than we used to, but the antigens in vaccines are nothing compared to the antigens that babies, and all of us, encounter as we breathe, eat, touch things, get dirty, and otherwise live our lives. Vaccines give babies a "sneak peek" of an infection - one that can't cause the infection, but which gives the body a chance to make antibodies so that it's ready to fight the infection should it be exposed. It's not overwhelming the immune system. It's helping to make the immune system work more efficiently.

Because that's the point: we don't want our children - and the children around them - to get sick. Too often, that point gets lost. People get so worried about the risks of vaccines that they forget to worry about the risks of the diseases vaccines prevent. It's important to know - and worry - about those, as they can be serious. Because vaccines work so well, we've nearly forgotten about how dangerous polio, Haemophilus influenzae infections, or even chickenpox can be.

It's normal, and understandable, to be afraid as a parent. But we need to be afraid of the right things - and we need to make decisions that keep everyone safer.

About the Author

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Why do parents worry about vaccines? - Harvard Health

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The ongoing measles epidemic spotlights the importance of vaccinations -- and the concerns some parents have about vaccine safety. If you have such concerns, talk to your child's doctor and learn more about vaccine safety.

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Westminster Hall Debate: Vaccinating Children

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Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent many infectious diseases. This page explains how vaccines work, what they contain and the most common side effects.

Be aware of anti-vaccine stories

Anti-vaccine stories are often spread online through social media and offline.

Always get your vaccine and health information from trusted sources, such as the NHS or World Health Organisation (WHO).

The vaccine information on social media may not be based on scientific evidence and could put your child at risk of a serious illness.

All the current evidence tells us that getting vaccinated is safer than not getting vaccinated.

Things you need to know about vaccines

Vaccines:

Do

help to protect you and your child from many serious and potentially deadly diseases

protect other people in your family and community - by helping to stop diseases spreading to people who cannot have vaccines, such as babies too young to be vaccinated and those who are too ill to be vaccinated

undergo rigorous safety testing before being introduced - they're also constantly monitored for side effects after being introduced

sometimes cause mild side effects that will not last long - you may feel a bit unwell and have a sore arm for 2 or 3 days

reduce or even get rid of some diseases - if enough people are vaccinated

Don't

do not overload or weaken the immune system - it's safe to give children and adults several vaccines at a time and this reduces the amount of injections needed

do not contain mercury (thiomersal)

do not contain any ingredients that cause harm - only ingredients essential to making them safer and more effective and only in very small amounts

do not cause autism - studies have found no evidence of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism

Why vaccines are important

Vaccination is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our children against ill health. They prevent millions of deaths worldwide every year.

Since vaccines were introduced in the UK, diseases like smallpox, polio and tetanus that used to kill or disable millions of people are either gone or are now very rarely seen.

Other diseases like measles and diphtheria have reduced to a very low number of cases each year since vaccines were introduced. These cases are often related to travel.

However, if people stop having vaccines, it's possible for infectious diseases to quickly spread again.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed vaccine hesitancy as one of the biggest threats to global health.

Important

If 95% of children receive the MMR vaccine, this would stop measles spreading completely.

However, measles, mumps and rubella can quickly spread again if fewer than 90% of people are vaccinated.

Everyone should be up to date with their routine vaccinations to give them the best protection.

How vaccines work

Vaccines teach your immune system how to create antibodies that protect you from diseases.

It's much safer for your immune system to learn this through vaccination than by catching the diseases and treating them.

Once your immune system knows how to fight a disease, it can often give you life long protection.

Herd immunity

Having a vaccine also benefits your whole community through "herd immunity".

If enough people are vaccinated, it's harder for the disease to spread to those people who cannot have vaccines. For example, people who are ill or have a weakened immune system.

Vaccine safety

All vaccines are thoroughly tested to make sure they will not harm you or your child.

It often takes many years for a vaccine to make it through the trials and tests it needs to pass for approval.

Once a vaccine is being used in the UK it's also monitored for any rare side effects by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). It is also carefully monitored to make sure it still works.

Anyone can report a suspected side effect of vaccination to the MHRA through the Yellow Card Scheme.

Who cannot have vaccines

There are very few people who cannot have vaccines.

Generally, vaccines are only not suitable for:

People with weakened immune systems (for example, because of cancer treatment or a health condition) may also not be able to have some vaccines.

If you're not sure if you or your child can be vaccinated, check with a GP, practice nurse, health visitor or pharmacist.

Side effects of vaccination

Most of the side effects of vaccination are mild and do not last long.

The most common side effects of vaccination include:

the area where the needle goes in looking red, swollen and feeling a bit sore for 2 to 3 days

feeling a bit unwell or developing a high temperature for 1 or 2 days

older children and adults may feel faint

feeling tired, having a headache, mild fever, or flu-like symptoms

Some children might also cry and be upset immediately after the injection. This is normal and they should feel better after a cuddle. Common side effects usually pass after a few days.

Allergic reactions

It's rare for anyone to have a serious allergic reaction to a vaccination. If this does happen, it usually happens within minutes.

The person who vaccinates you or your child will be trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately. With prompt treatment, you or your child will make a good recovery.

Read vaccination tips for parents, including what to expect after vaccination

What's in a vaccine?

Most vaccines contain a small amount of bacteria, virus or toxin that's been weakened or destroyed in a laboratory first.

Some contain chemicals that make your body think it's coming into contact with the bacteria, virus or toxin.

This means there's a very low risk of healthy people catching a disease from a vaccine. It's also why you might see vaccines being called "live" or "non-live".

What's the difference between a live and a non-live vaccine?

Live (weakened) vaccines

Non-live (destroyed) vaccines

Live (weakened) vaccines

Contain viruses or bacteria that have been weakened

Non-live (destroyed) vaccines

Contain viruses or bacteria that have been destroyed

Live (weakened) vaccines

Cannot be given to people with a weakened immune system

Non-live (destroyed) vaccines

Can still be given to people with a weakened immune system

Live (weakened) vaccines

Gives long-term protection

Non-live (destroyed) vaccines

Often needs several doses or a booster vaccine for full protection

Other vaccine ingredients

Vaccines contain other ingredients that help make the vaccine more effective.

The main ingredient in vaccines is water. The other ingredients are used in very small amounts.

There is no evidence that any of the ingredients are harmful in such small amounts.

Aluminium (adjuvant)

An adjuvant is an ingredient added to vaccines in very small amounts to make them work more effectively. This may be particularly important for certain individuals, such as young babies or older people.

The most common vaccine adjuvants are aluminium salts. These have been used safely in many of our routine infant and adult vaccines for more than 70 years.

We come into contact with aluminium all the time. It's found naturally in very small amounts in:

almost all foods

drinking water

breast milk

baby formula milk

It's also used in medicines, such as antacids, and in food packaging.

There's no evidence that the levels of aluminium we come across every day increase the risk of conditions like dementia or autism.

The amount of aluminium used in non-live vaccines is very, very small. No harmful effects have been seen with vaccines that contain an aluminium-based adjuvant.

What is it?

Aluminium is a very common metal that's been used safely in vaccines for more than 70 years.

Most killed vaccines contain a very small amount of aluminium-based adjuvant to:

help to boost our immune response

make the vaccine more effective and long-lasting

reduce the amount of antigen needed in a vaccine

sometimes reduce the number of doses that need to be given

Squalene oil (adjuvant)

Adjuvants are added to vaccines in very small amounts to make the response to the vaccine more effective. They have been shown to not be harmful.

They might cause minor reactions, such as a small temporary lump or redness at the injection site.

What is it?

Squalene oil is a component of the adjuvant added to the trivalent flu vaccine and the Sanofi (VidPrevtyn) COVID-19 vaccine recommended for older adults.

It comes from marine oil and is highly purified before being used in the vaccines.

Adjuvants are added to some vaccines to:

help to boost our immune response, especially as we get older

make the vaccine more effective and long-lasting

reduce the amount of antigen needed in a vaccine

sometimes reduce the number of doses that need to be given

Pork gelatine

There have been a small number of allergic reactions to vaccines containing gelatine. Speak to your doctor first if you have a known allergy to gelatine.

Some religious groups, such as Muslims and Jews, may be concerned about using vaccines containing gelatine from pigs. But some faith group leaders have stated the use of gelatine in vaccines is acceptable and does not break any religious rules.
Read this NHS leaflet about vaccines and porcine gelatine
What is it?

Gelatine derived from pigs is used as a stabilising agent in some vaccines to:

help protect vaccines from the effects of heat or freeze-drying

help maintain the shelf life of the vaccine

The only vaccines containing gelatine in the UK routine vaccination schedule are:

the children's nasal flu vaccine

1 of the 2 types of MMR vaccine

1 of the 2 types of shingles vaccine

Human serum albumin and recombinant albumin

These are considered safe. Human serum albumin used in vaccines comes from screened blood donors. The manufacturing process ensures there is no risk of transmitting any diseases.

Recombinant albumin does not contain any human or animal products.

What are they?

Human serum albumin is a substance from human blood. It's used to stabilise a chickenpox vaccine called Varilix and maintain its quality during storage.

Recombinant albumin is produced by cells, such as yeast cells, that have had the gene for human albumin inserted into them.

The cells are then able to generate large quantities of human serum albumin without any need to extract it from human blood.

Recombinant albumin may be used in very small amounts as a stabiliser in 1 of the MMR vaccines used in the UK (MMRVaxPro).

Egg protein

Children and adults with a severe egg allergy can safely receive the MMR vaccine.

Children and adults with an egg allergy are advised to have either:

an egg-free inactivated flu vaccine

a vaccine with a very low egg protein (ovalbumin) content

The live nasal spray flu vaccine given to children has a very low egg protein content. It can be safely given to children with an egg allergy.

Children and adults who have previously had a very severe allergic reaction to eggs may be advised to have their flu vaccine in a hospital.

What is it?

There are 2 vaccines in the UK routine schedule that contain small amounts of egg protein:

the flu vaccine - which is grown on hens' eggs. It can potentially trigger an allergic reaction in people with an egg allergy

the MMR vaccine - which is grown on cells from chick embryos, which is not the same as hens' eggs. This means it does not trigger an allergic reaction

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde can be found naturally in our bloodstream at levels far higher than we would be exposed to in vaccines.

Although formaldehyde can be harmful in high concentrations, there are no health concerns about the small amounts found in vaccines.

What is it?

Formaldehyde is a chemical also used in the production of killed vaccines. It's used very early in the manufacturing process to kill or inactivate the toxins from bacteria or viruses.

Once the antigens are inactivated, the formaldehyde is diluted out. It's possible that trace amounts may remain in the final vaccine.

Antibiotics

If you know you're allergic to neomycin or any other antibiotic, speak to your doctor or practice nurse before having a vaccine.

Antibiotics known to cause allergic reactions, such as penicillin, are generally not used in vaccines.

But tiny amounts of an antibiotic called neomycin, which is capable of triggering an allergic reaction, are found in:

the MMR vaccine

6-in-1 vaccine

quadrivalent inactivated flu vaccine

4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine Repevax

shingles vaccine

What are they?

Antibiotics are added to some vaccines to prevent the growth of bacteria during the production and storage of the vaccine.

Antibiotics can only be found in tiny amounts in the final vaccine.

A full list of any vaccine's ingredients is available on the electronic medicines compendium (emc) website

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Why vaccination is important and the safest way to protect yourself

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Read about how vaccines work, what they contain and the most common side effects.