KUALA LUMPUR - Despite having a lower chance of contracting Covid-19 compared to adults, children also need to get vaccinated to create a much more effective herd immunity, according to a public health expert.
Pharmaniaga Berhad Vaccine specialist Dr Ajit Pal Singh said the virus is still able to spread and mutated among the pediatric age group and the infection rate might be increasing if protection is not widely administered to children and teenagers.
"Although the vaccination rate of the adult populations in Malaysia has reached around 90%, the virus is able to grow in the pediatric group and it will become a reservoir for them.
"When the opportunity presents itself. the Covid-19 virus will infect senior citizens, comorbid groups, low immunity groups as well as children and teenagers.
"In order to stop the reservoir and the mutation of the virus, the children need to get vaccinated," he said
Dr Ajit said the parents do not have to worry about the side effects of the vaccine towards the children as over 80 per cent of them are asymptomatic or possess mild symptoms from the vaccine.
The critical symptoms from the side-effects from the vaccine are reported to be one out of 20,000 vaccine receivers among the 12 to 17 years old group.
At the same time, he also advised the public to choose the best vaccine in the sense of balancing out the safety of the receivers with the protection that their body needs.
"Sinovac vaccine is safe for the pediatric population.
"Over 250 million children and teenagers in China are vaccinated and no new or negative side effects were reported from the vaccine.
"Choosing the vaccine of high immunogenic rate for the lower risk group is not advisable
As of now, every type of vaccine is approved to be administered for the 12 to 17 years old group while still awaiting approval from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Division for the approval to vaccinate 3 to 11 years old children.
The pediatric age group will also be given two doses of injections, similar to adults, but in smaller amounts.
Children and teenagers may also be advised to take booster shots but the matter is still under study to asses its needs. - Awani.