Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2025

Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice
08:52

Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice

Published on: February 22, 2019

10.7K

Global COVID-19 Vaccination in Infants and Children: Effectiveness, Safety, and Challenges

Watsamon Jantarabenjakul1,2,3, Napaporn Chantasrisawad1,2,3, Rapisa Nantanee1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.

Asian Pacific Journal of Allergy and Immunology
|October 24, 2023
PubMed

Insights

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for children over six months, reducing severe illness. Real-world effectiveness against infection is lower due to variants, and vaccine uptake remains a challenge.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Vaccinology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • COVID-19 vaccines (mRNA and inactivated) are approved for infants and children over six months, demonstrating efficacy in preventing severe disease, hospitalization, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), and death.
  • Real-world vaccine effectiveness against infection is diminished by emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, particularly Omicron strains, compared to initial clinical trial findings.
  • Despite established vaccine availability for pediatric populations, global vaccine uptake remains suboptimal, exacerbated by parental vaccine hesitancy.

Approach:

  • This review synthesizes data from clinical trials and real-world studies on COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy in children aged 6 months to under 12 years.
  • It examines current 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for this age group.
  • The review discusses vaccine implementation progress, real-world effectiveness, and identifies knowledge gaps and future research directions.

Key Points:

  • COVID-19 vaccines significantly reduce severe outcomes in children, including hospitalization and MIS-C.
  • Emerging variants like Omicron impact vaccine effectiveness against infection, necessitating ongoing surveillance and potential strategy adjustments.
  • Addressing parental hesitancy and improving vaccine accessibility are crucial for enhancing pediatric COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

Conclusions:

  • COVID-19 vaccines offer substantial protection against severe disease in infants and children.
  • Continued research is vital to understand and mitigate the impact of viral evolution on vaccine effectiveness.
  • Strategies to boost vaccine confidence and uptake in pediatric populations are essential for public health.

More Related Videos

Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain05:51

Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain

Published on: July 24, 2016

19.5K
Opsono-Adherence Assay to Evaluate Functional Antibodies in Vaccine Development Against Bacillus anthracis and Other Encapsulated Pathogens13:47

Opsono-Adherence Assay to Evaluate Functional Antibodies in Vaccine Development Against Bacillus anthracis and Other Encapsulated Pathogens

Published on: May 19, 2020

3.5K

Related Concept Videos

Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
44.6K
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics01:29

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
35
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
320
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
2.5K
Preclinical Development: Overview01:28

Preclinical Development: Overview

Preclinical development consists of a series of tests that ensure the safety and efficacy of a new therapeutic compound before it is tested in humans. There are four main phases to this process. First, safety pharmacology tests are conducted to ensure the drug does not produce any acutely harmful effects. These tests examine parameters such as bronchoconstriction, cardiac dysrhythmias, blood pressure changes, and ataxia. Next, preliminary toxicological testing is performed to determine the...
4.5K
Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route01:29

Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route

The parenteral route is a critical method of drug administration. It delivers compounds directly into the systemic circulation and bypasses the gastrointestinal tract. This approach is particularly advantageous for drugs that exhibit poor absorption or instability when administered orally.
There are three primary parenteral routes: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC). The IV route introduces the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring immediate action. The IM route...
576