First off, there is no dispute concerning the fact that we should be vaccinated against COVID-19. If you have not started your vaccination series, please consider doing so especially if you are in a high risk group. At present, the vaccines that are available are active against the initial COVID-19 virus and all it's variants with less effectiveness against preventing infection with the present Omicron BA-4 and 5 which are the variants that are widely circulating at this time. The COVID-19 vaccine series ( 2 doses and 2 boosters for eligible groups) DOES reduce the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death.
Should your children aged 5- 11 receive a booster dose?
As of August 2022, the rate of hospitalizations due to serious illness from COVID-19 in children ages 5-11 was 0.2/100,000. The rate of hospitalizations in people over 80 was 22.6/100,000. Therefore, Omicron BA-4 and 5 cause mild illness in kids for the most part. Those at greatest risk are people over 80 years of age.
See table four on this Public Health Ontario document:
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/nCoV/epi/covid-19-weekly-epi-summary-report.pdf?sc_lang=en
It is interesting to note that wave 7, caused by Omicron BA- 4 and BA-5 had a much reduced case fatality rate ( the number of people who die from an illness ) of 2.2% compared to all of the other waves. This is likely the result of widespread vaccination and the fact that these variants are less deadly.
See Table six of this document:
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/nCoV/epi/covid-19-weekly-epi-summary-report.pdf?sc_lang=en
At present, a child who has received two doses of vaccine has a 36.8 % reduced risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and a 82.7% reduced risk against hospitalization.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2203209
NACI ( the National Advisory Committee on Immunization) has now recommended a booster dose for children aged 5- 11. The intent of the booster dose is to restore protection from the two dose series. The protection provided by two doses in this age group has likely decreased over time to a level that is no longer deemed sufficient to reduce the risk of infection or hospitalization. NACI also recommends that the booster dose be given at least 6 months since the completion of the 2 dose series.
Only 42 % of children in this age group have received 2 doses of vaccine. For your child to receive the best vaccine protection this fall, start the vaccination series as soon as you can. Pfizer is used in this age group.
https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/immunization/national-advisory-committee-on-immunization-naci/recommendations-use-first-booster-dose-pfizer-biontech-comirnaty-covid-19-vaccine-children-5-11-years.pdf
Please note, that manufactures are working on new COVID-19 vaccines including 'multivalent' vaccines. Multivalent vaccines target the original COVID-19 virus and it's variants. These multivalent vaccines will not likely be available to adults until late fall or the new year. Please consider getting a second booster dose of vaccine if you are over 18. That second booster will be all that is available to protect you from what will likely be an 8th wave or a surge of the 7th wave this fall.
To summarize:
1/Omicron BA-4 and BA-5 are the dominant COVID-19 viruses that are presently circulating. The mRNA vaccines ( moderna and pfizer) are not effective at preventing illness from these variants. They do reduce the risk of serious illness and hospitalization.
2/ Omicron BA-4 and BA-5 pose the greatest risk in the over 80 age group with a very low risk of serious illness and hospitalization in children aged 5- 11 and in all younger age groups. Vaccines have reduced this risk. Natural immunity acquired from infection has reduced this risk and the fact that these variants are less deadly has also reduced this risk.
3/ We are now in a long and encouraging stretch during which no new variant of concern has threatened to take over Omicron BA-4 and 5. This is great news. The longer this variant circulates the more immunity we build and the longer we have to create very effective multivalent vaccines. If we coast through the fall with no new variants we could be at the point in this pandemic when annual vaccines are all that is required. Amen to that!
Would I give my child aged 5-11 a booster dose? Yes, I think I would. The risk of serious concerns from vaccines in this age group are extremely low ( see the above link the the New England Journal of Medicine article for review of these risks.) The risk of my healthy children developing serious illness or requiring hospitalization from COVID infection is also extremely low. Vaccinating these kids reduces the risk of spreading infection to those at much higher risk ( 80 years of age and above, the immunocompromised, those with chronic illnesses). It will also reduce the amount of circulating virus in the community. The more virus that circulates, the greater the risk of new variants of concern evolving. Widespread vaccination gets us closer to this virus becoming an illness that requires an annual vaccine to control.
As we move indoors, I am going to put my mask back on in public spaces. I never really took it off but in the last month or so, I have been running into this shop or that store for a quick purchase without a mask on. I have had four doses of vaccine and two cases of COVID in May/June. By the end of September, my immunity will be down again. Wear a mask until the multivalent vaccines are available. And, stay home if you have COVID, for at least 5 days or more if your symptoms are persisting. The government gives us guidance which follows the science but is also assessed through a political and economic lens. If you are able, follow the science as much as possible.
Anne-Marie
Please share.
And to continue providing primary/COVID care and HIV care to the beautiful people of Lesotho, you can click to donate here:
https://www.braceletofhope.ca/ways-to-give/
For non-Facebook users, you can find this post here:
https://braceletofhope.blogspot.com/
