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COVID-19

COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness in Children Aged 5-11 Years in Italy: New Research Finds Lower Protection

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A recent study published in The Lancet has analyzed the effectiveness of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine in children aged 5-11 years in Italy during the omicron variant (B.1.1.529) dominated epidemiological context. The research found that by April 13, 2022, only about 35.8% of the eligible children in Italy had received two doses of the vaccine, while 4.5% had received one dose only, and 59.6% remained unvaccinated. The study aimed to assess vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 in this age group.

Key Takeaways:

  • By April 13, 2022, only 35.8% of 5-11-year-old children in Italy had received two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine.
  • The study estimated vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 in children aged 5-11 years in Italy.
  • The effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection peaked at 38.7% at 0-14 days after full vaccination but decreased to 21.2% at 43-84 days after full vaccination.
  • The vaccine showed a lower effectiveness in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 in children aged 5-11 years compared to individuals aged 12 years and older.
  • The study found that the vaccine's effectiveness against infection appears to decrease after completion of the current primary vaccination cycle.
  • The research was conducted by Chiara Sacco and colleagues from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Rome, Italy.
  • The study was supported by the Italian translation of a summary, which can be found in the Supplementary Materials section of the The Lancet journal.

Statistics:

  • 2,965,918 children aged 5-11 years were included in the study.
  • 1,063,035 (35.8%) children received two doses of the vaccine.
  • 134,386 (4.5%) children received one dose only.
  • 1,768,497 (59.6%) children remained unvaccinated.
  • 766,756 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection and 644 cases of severe COVID-19 (627 hospitalizations, 15 admissions to intensive care units, and two deaths) were notified during the study period.
  • Overall vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the fully vaccinated group was 29.4% (95% CI 28.5-30.2).
  • Vaccine effectiveness against severe COVID-19 in the fully vaccinated group was 41.1% (22.2-55.4).

Sources:

  • The Lancet, 2022; 400(10346):97-103.
  • National Institute of Health Reports Findings in COVID-19 (Effectiveness of BNT162b2 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 in children aged 5-11 years in Italy: a retrospective analysis of January-April, 2022). Pediatrics Week. July 23, 2022; p 18.

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