EMA approved COVID 19 vaccine for children aged 6 months to 5 years with a different prescription.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EMA Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended extending the use of Comirnaty and Spikevax targeting the original SARS-CoV-2 strain; in particular – for children aged between 6 months and 4 years – the administration of Comirnaty was recommended while, for children aged between 6 months and 5 years, that of Spikevax.
The use of both vaccines had already been approved in both adults and children aged 5 (for Comirnaty) and 6 years (for Spikevax) and older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The doses for these new younger age groups will be lower than those already authorized: in children aged between 6 months and 4 years, Comirnaty can be administered as a primary vaccination in three doses (3 micrograms each); the first two doses are administered three weeks apart, followed by a third dose administered at least 8 weeks after the second dose. In children aged between 6 months and 5 years, Spikevax can be administered as a primary vaccination consisting of two doses (25 micrograms each), four weeks apart. For children in these age groups, both vaccines are given via injections into the muscles of the upper arm or thigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Comirnaty, a study in children aged 6 months to 4 years showed that the immune response to the lowest dose of Comirnaty (3 micrograms) was comparable to that seen with the highest dose (30 micrograms) in the age group between 16 and 25 years. For Spikevax, a study in children aged 6 months to 5 years showed that the immune response to the lowest dose of Spikevax (25 micrograms) was comparable to that seen with the highest dose (100 micrograms) in the range of aged between 18 and 25 years. Both studies evaluated the immune response triggered by vaccines by measuring the level of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most common side effects for both vaccines, in children aged 6 months to 4 or 5 years, were comparable to those seen in older age groups: irritability, drowsiness, loss of appetite, rash and site tenderness. injection side effects were common in children aged 6 to 23 months with Comirnaty; while irritability, crying, loss of appetite and drowsiness were common side effects in children aged 6 to 36 months with Spikevax. For both vaccines, these effects were generally mild or moderate and improved within a few days of vaccination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How vaccines work<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both vaccines work by preparing the body to defend itself against COVID-19. Each vaccine contains a molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA) that has the instructions to make the spike protein. This is a protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that the virus needs to enter cells in the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When a person is given the vaccine, some of their cells will read the instructions on the mRNA and temporarily produce the spike protein. The person’s immune system will then recognize this protein as foreign and will produce antibodies and activate T cells (white blood cells) to attack it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If, subsequently, the person comes into contact with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, their immune system will recognize it and will be ready to defend the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The vaccine mRNA does not remain in the body but is broken down after vaccination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a primary vaccination course with Comirnaty, adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older are administered 30 micrograms per dose; children aged 5 to 11 years are given 10 micrograms per dose. For a primary vaccination course with Spikevax, adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older are administered 100 micrograms per dose; children aged 6 to 11 years are given 50 micrograms per dose.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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