The question of vaccinating children under 12 is being raised, particularly due to the spread of coronavirus variants. “We are monitoring the spread of the Delta variant and the significant threat it poses to children,” stated Albert Bourla.
During August, US health professionals warned of a surge in hospitalizations due to the Delta variant in children. However, data released in early September by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that while hospitalizations among children and adolescents had increased fivefold between late June and mid-August, the proportion of young people hospitalized for severe illness remained unchanged during the period when the Delta variant was predominant. The CDC also highlighted the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine in young people, noting that hospitalization rates were 10 times higher among unvaccinated children and adolescents than among those who had completed the full vaccination schedule. Nevertheless, vaccination of children under 12 is still not underway in the United States. What about France? The President of the Republic addressed the issue in early September. “Some countries have opened their doors to children under 12, but we follow the advice of experts and, for the moment, continue with those over 12. There are those who are concerned, and we must listen to their concerns (…) As soon as the scientists tell us: ‘We can open the doors to younger children,’ we will,” declared Emmanuel Macron.
