The delay between the approval of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) and the effective implementation of vaccination of children over 5 years against Covid-19 “seems to be ideological”, evaluated the infectologist and researcher from Fiocruz Júlio Croda to CNN this Wednesday (29).
For Croda, the endorsement of Anvisa, the favorable signaling of scientific entities (including Fiocruz) and the advance of childhood immunization in other countries are already sufficient proof of the safety and effectiveness of the application of Pfizer doses in those who have between 5 and 11 years old.
“The motivation [para a demora] seems to be ideological. Several regulatory agencies and countries already recommend this vaccine. The vaccine is important not only to prevent transmission, but to prevent hospitalization and death”, said the infectious disease specialist.
“It is necessary that this vaccination takes place before returning from school activities, and it is the right of the parent who wants to get the vaccine to take their child to get this vaccine. The government cannot restrict the right to vaccination, which is present in the Children’s Statute”, he commented.
In addition, the researcher said that the Ministry of Health’s idea of recommending that a medical prescription be necessary to vaccinate children could lead to an increase in inequality of access to healthcare in the country, since the availability of pediatricians and doctors in the public network differs from the private network.
“Access to the poorest population [à vacina] it will be more difficult due to a totally unnecessary medical prescription”, he said.
“This vaccine is made with a lower dose and with fewer side effects. There is no report of death from myocarditis in more than 5 million vaccinated children in the US. The vaccine is safe and this need for a medical prescription is unnecessary”.
Another impact of the lack of immunization in children could be caused by the advance of the Ômicron variant in this age group, as has been observed in the United States. In Brazil, the problem would extend to hospital care for children with Covid-19 if this were repeated, noted Croda.
“If you have a significant increase in this variant in people who were not vaccinated, such as children, we have few pediatric intensive care unit services in Brazil, most of which are concentrated in the capitals,” he said.
Reference: CNN Brasil
