A PIB press launch claimed no nation is giving vaccines to youngsters whereas in truth the U.S. has upto May 18 vaccinated 4.1 million youngsters
On May 27, a PIB press launch stated “Several myths on India’s Covid-19 vaccination program are doing the rounds. These myths are arising due to distorted statements, half-truths and blatant lies”. Dr. Vinod Paul, Member (Health) in NITI Aayog and Chair of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) sought to handle seven “myths”. One of them was on vaccination of youngsters.
According to the discharge, the parable was that the Centre wasn’t taking any step to vaccinate youngsters. Clarifying this, Dr. Paul stated: “As of now, no country in the world is giving vaccines to children.”Unfortunately, the “fact” put out by Dr. Paul was fully incorrect. As early as December 11, 2020, when the FDA granted the primary emergency use approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, the regulatory physique permitted the vaccine for use on youngsters older than 16 years.
On May 10 this yr, the FDA decreased the higher age restrict to change into eligible for the Pfizer vaccine to 12 years. So far, Canada, the U.S., U.A.E., Singapore, Bahrain and Qatar have authorised using Pfizer vaccine in youngsters 12–15 years. On May 5, 2021, Canada turned the primary nation to approve its use in youngsters 12–15 years.
The authorisation by Canada’s regulatory company was primarily based on the phase-3 trial carried out within the U.S. on 2,260 youngsters within the age group 12–15 years.
The trial discovered that the vaccine was protected and had 100% efficacy. The trial additionally discovered that the vaccine produced strong antibody responses in youngsters 12–15 years, exceeding these reported in trials of individuals aged 16–25 years, in response to an organization launch.
Approval worldwide
While the U.S., FDA cleared the vaccine to be used in youngsters aged 12–15 years on May 10, the U.A.E. authorised its use on May 13. On May 18, Singapore turned the fourth nation to approve the vaccine for youngsters 12–15 years; Bahrain too authorised the vaccine for the goal group the identical day. On May 19, Qatar authorised the Pfizer vaccine for youngsters as younger as 12 years.
Not solely did the U.S. approve the vaccine for youngsters aged 12–15 years weeks earlier than Dr. Paul issued the assertion but in addition vaccinated greater than 6,00,000 youngsters in only a week after the CDC on May 12 cleared the vaccine for public distribution. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of CDC additionally stated that within the U.S. as on May 18, in complete greater than 4.1 million youngsters aged 12–17 years had been vaccinated.
Now, on May 28, a day after Dr. Paul’s clarification, the European Commission has authorised using the Pfizer vaccine in youngsters 12–15 years. The resolution comes after European Medicines Agency (EMA) backed using the vaccine within the goal group earlier within the day. Germany and Italy are already making ready to vaccinate youngsters aged 12–15 years. Japan too authorised the vaccine use in youngsters in the identical age group on May 28.
Issues clarification
Following the large storm on social media, Dr. Paul clarified his earlier assertion. He stated: “It has been found out now that Pfizer [vaccine] can be administered to the younger population. One-two countries will start doing [vaccinating] that now”.
It is stunning that Dr. Paul as the Chair of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 was ignorant concerning the Pfizer vaccine being authorised to be used in youngsters 16 years and above within the U.S. and lots of different nations, and the U.S. has been vaccinating youngsters above 16 years since April 20, 2021 and people above 12 years since May 12. It took this large uproar on social media for him to know this.
Even then, the clarification from Dr. Paul was not factually appropriate. He stated “one-two countries will start doing [vaccinating] that now” when in actuality the U.S. has been vaccinating youngsters above 16 years since April 20. The U.S has already vaccinated 4.1 million youngsters older than 12 years as on May 18. Dubai began vaccinating youngsters above 12 years quickly after the FDA authorised the vaccine for this age group. As on May 24, 1,800 youngsters aged 12–15 years obtained their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Lack of accuracy
“From the very beginning of the pandemic, people at the top have not been keen on data accuracy and sharing factual statements. The need for verification of data has not been given sufficient respect by these people. Opinions and facts are mixed up,” says Dr. Jacob John, previously with CMC Vellore. “It is unacceptable and irresponsible that Dr. Paul, who holds a responsible position, does not respect the truth. People tend to believe what he and others holding responsible positions say as verified facts.”
Dr. John provides: “The need to set a false narrative sets in to suit the ground reality.” In this case, medical trials in youngsters haven’t begun in India. So an try is being made to indicate that no nation has been vaccinating youngsters.
While, Dr. Paul tried to make clear that the Pfizer vaccine be administered to the youthful inhabitants and one–two nations will start vaccination in youngsters, PIB cited a really completely different purpose whereas issuing a corrected launch. The corrected launch stated: “The release mentions that ‘no country in the world is giving vaccines to children’. It should read ‘no country in the world is giving vaccines to children under 12 years’. The inadvertent typographical omission is regretted.”
Studies on youngsters
Moderna, which was the second vaccine to get an EUA from the FDA, not too long ago stated the preliminary outcomes from the Phase 2/3 examine in youngsters aged 12–17 yr confirmed 100% efficacy 14 days after the second dose. The firm plans to submit knowledge to regulators in early June. While Novavax has simply begun a examine in youngsters 12–17 years, AstraZeneca is already testing its vaccine amongst youngsters in Britain aged above six years. Meanwhile, each Pfizer and Moderna have begun research in youngsters aged six months to 11 years.
