Topline
Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine diminished threat of an infection by the omicron variant 31% amongst kids 5-11 and 59% amongst kids 12-15, based on a research of 1,364 kids revealed Friday by the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
An Israeli well being employee administers a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine to a … [+]
MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Key Details
Absolutely vaccinated kids age 5-15 who developed symptomatic omicron infections spent a mean of 1.4 days sick in mattress, in comparison with 1.9 days sick in mattress amongst unvaccinated kids, the research discovered.
Although Pfizer’s vaccine has been permitted to be used amongst kids 5 and up since 2021, its effectiveness at stopping omicron an infection has been troublesome to estimate as a result of contaminated kids usually present solely gentle signs, stated Abt Associates well being researcher Dr. Lauren Olsho, principal investigator for the research.
Amongst unvaccinated kids who examined optimistic for Covid, 66% of these with delta variant infections reported signs, in comparison with 49% of these with omicron infections.
Working from July 25-February 12, the research monitored 1,052 kids 5-11 and 312 kids 12-15 who have been examined weekly for Covid no matter signs, and was a part of the bigger Pediatric Analysis Observing Developments and Exposures in COVID-19 Timelines (PROTECT) research monitoring youngsters aged 6 months to 17 years in Arizona, Florida, Texas and Utah.
Whereas the research revealed Friday monitored each symptomatic and asymptomatic sufferers, earlier analysis has relied primarily on information from symptomatic Covid sufferers who sought medical care, offering an incomplete image, particularly as at-home Covid testing turns into extra widespread, researchers stated.
Pfizer’s headquarters in New York Metropolis, as seen on January 26, 2009.
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Key Background
The research revealed Friday supplemented earlier findings that Pfizer’s vaccine is efficient at stopping delta variant an infection amongst kids age 12 and over, researchers stated. The broader PROTECT research is among the largest research together with weekly Covid testing no matter signs, and supplies an in depth image of how vaccination standing, socio-demographic traits, masks use, location and different variables have an effect on an infection threat, the CDC stated. Although kids typically expertise milder omicron signs than adults, kids have been 4 instances extra more likely to be hospitalized attributable to Covid through the omicron surge than when delta was the dominant variant, based on a February 15 report by the CDC. The best spike in omicron-associated pediatric hospitalizations was noticed amongst kids age 5 and below, who will not be but eligible for vaccination, the CDC stated. The outcomes of the research revealed Friday reinforce the significance of preserving kids up-to-date on CDC-recommended vaccinations, researchers stated.
Contra
Vaccinated kids who caught omicron missed a mean of 26.2 hours of college, in comparison with 18.8 hours amongst unvaccinated kids, the research revealed Friday discovered. Vaccination additionally didn’t considerably cut back medical care-seeking—15.5% of vaccinated contributors who caught omicron sought care, in comparison with 16.4% of unvaccinated contributors.
Additional Studying
“Kids Have been Practically 4 Occasions As Seemingly To Be Hospitalized With Covid-19 Throughout Omicron Wave In contrast To Delta” (Forbes)
