9 questions about vaccination against COVID-19 for children from 5 to 11 years old

The vaccination against COVID-19 to children between 6 and 11 years, which began on October 18, arouses concerns in the representatives and parents. To answer these questions, the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) organized a virtual conversation with authorities and experts, who provided technical and scientific information on the process and vaccines that are applied to minors.

The event was attended by the Ministers of Health, Ximena Garzón Villalba; of Education, María Brown; the institutional manager of the Management of the National Vaccination Plan, Cristina Aldaz; the researcher and professor Esteban Ortiz; the representative of the Advisory Commission on Immunization Practices (CAPI), Greta Muñoz, and the president of the Ecuadorian Pediatric Society, Fernando Aguinaga.

Ministry of Public Health analyzes placing Sinovac anti-coronavirus vaccine in 5-year-old children as well

With the inoculation of the children, the Government plans to reach December with the 85% of the country’s population vaccinated and thus achieve herd immunity. In addition, it is intended that more students attend classes in person.

Here is a compilation of the topics addressed in the discussion:

1. What type of vaccine is given to children?

I know administer the Sinovac vaccine, in doses of 0.5 milliliters, intramuscularly. It is the same amount that is injected into an adult person. The second dose will be applied 28 days after the first.

2. Why aren’t you vaccinated with Pfizer?

The doses that Ecuador has to supply children are from Sinovac. Pfizer has chosen in its phase 1 and 2 clinical study to give children a fraction of the dose of just 10 micrograms, which is in the process of being cleared by the US FDA. In Ecuador, Pfizer is available for adults and to administer to children the available doses should be multiplied, which complicates logistics.

3. Does the Sinovac vaccine have adverse effects? What to do if an adverse reaction occurs?

It has the least adverse effects, according to studies carried out in Ecuador and in other countries. Nevertheless, if the child begins to present pain, swelling, redness at the injection site, dizziness, headache, fatigue, fever, chills, muscle pain and syncope related to the puncture, the MSP recommends go to the nearest health center, do not self-medicate the minor.

4. Can children receive other vaccines at the same time as COVID-19?

Yes, can be administered at the same time the coronavirus vaccine along with any other that is included in the national vaccination schedule. It can be done the same day or on different days, without requiring an interval between doses. It is recommended to take advantage of the opportunity to apply the vaccine against COVID-19 to complete the outline of the other vaccines on the schedule.

5. If the child has a cold, can it be vaccinated?

If you have just a cold or mucus can be vaccinated. But if you have a fever, cough, and muscle pain, it must first be ruled out that it is COVID-19; if it is positive, it is recommended to wait for recovery from the disease before receiving the vaccine.

6. Can children who have had COVID-19 be vaccinated?

Yes, once they are recovered.

7. How is the vaccination process?

The call for children is made based on lists from the Ministry of Education. A schedule with health centers and districts. The schedules, with the time and day of the vaccination, are shared with parents and representatives, through educational institutions. The teams from the Ministry of Health will go to educational establishments to administer vaccines.

US to vaccinate 28 million children ages 5-11 against COVID-19 since November

8. Are there requirements for vaccination?

There are no requirements previous. Parents or representatives of minors will have to sign the informed consent, which is a document that explains all the benefits and possible risks of the vaccine.

In the case of children who are 5 years, 11 months and 29 days old (that is, one day before their 6th birthday) and who require booster shots to prevent diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus (DPT) and polio (bOPV), of the regular scheme, the programming will be done together with the dose against COVID-19.

9. How will children who are not studying, who have a disability or who live in remote places be vaccinated?

For them it will proceed through health centers. Parents and guardians can go to the centers near their home and consult the vaccination schedule.

In addition, the Ministry of Health will assist with mobile brigades to children who have disabilities or difficulties to move, as well as those who live in areas with difficult access. (I)