Infants at Risk from Covid-19: Pediatric Clinic Director Urges Vaccination

Strategic Insights -

The pediatric clinic at Makarios hospital has treated 250 children with Covid-19, including about a third who were infants, since the pandemic began. Head of the clinic, Avraam Elia, warned that infants are at risk of dying from the virus or developing the life-threatening MIS-C syndrome, and emphasized the importance of vaccinating young children. Elia stated that while there are no significant side effects from the vaccine in infants, there is a small chance of death or severe illness. He also mentioned that two children were being treated for MIS-C at his clinic, one of whom required ICU care.

Key Takeaways:

  • Infants are at risk of dying from Covid-19 or developing life-threatening MIS-C syndrome, according to Avraam Elia, head of the pediatric clinic at Makarios hospital.
  • The clinic has treated 250 children with Covid-19, including about a third who were infants.
  • There are no significant side effects from the vaccine in infants, but a small chance of death or severe illness.
  • Multisytem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is an inflammatory reaction in the body about four weeks after infection with the Sars-CoV-2 virus.
  • The initial symptoms of MIS-C often include fever, rashes, red eyes, diarrhea, and vomiting, and may worsen over a few days.
  • Pfizer is requesting FDA authorization of the first two doses of a planned three-dose regimen for children under five.
  • John Grabenstein, former executive director of medical affairs for vaccines at Merck, believes regulators should consider the vaccine as a two-dose course rather than the first two doses of a planned three-dose regimen.
  • John Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College, supports the plan to vaccinate young children, stating that 'there's no safety implications, which would otherwise be a dealbreaker'.

Statistics:

  • 250 children have been treated for Covid-19 at the Makarios hospital pediatric clinic since the pandemic began.
  • About a third of the children treated for Covid-19 were infants.
  • 2 children were being treated for MIS-C at the Makarios hospital clinic, one of whom required ICU care.
  • MIS-C symptoms often include fever, rashes, red eyes, diarrhea, and vomiting.
  • The vaccine is planned to be administered in three doses: the first two doses three weeks apart, and a third dose at least eight weeks later.

Sources:

  • Avraam Elia, head of the pediatric clinic at Makarios hospital, as quoted by SigmaLive.
  • Pfizer Inc press release announcing the regulatory approval process for their Covid-19 vaccines for children under five.
  • John Grabenstein, former executive director of medical affairs for vaccines at Merck, as quoted by [Source not explicitly stated in the original text, therefore not included].
  • John Moore, professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College, as quoted by [Source not explicitly stated in the original text, therefore not included].
  • The initial symptoms of MIS-C often include fever, rashes, red eyes, diarrhea, and vomiting.