PANAJI
The State government has decided to commence registration for Covid jabs for children in the age group of 12-18 from January 1, and start the vaccination from January 3, as is also declared by the Central government.
However, doubts about the efficacy of these vaccines and their future side effects still loom. The vaccine cannot prevent infection, as people are getting infected even after their booster shots, argue parents who express concern about the haste in which the decision is being implemented disguising it as a New Year's gift.
Most parents are sceptical and totally against vaccinating their children, fearing the adverse effects after immunisation, whereas a handful of child specialists show reluctance in going ahead with the decision, as in children the severity of the illness is very low. The Goan spoke to various persons in the medical fraternity and also interacted with parents to receive mixed feedback.
“As a parent, I would not allow my children to be a Guinea pig for the trial experiment vaccine. They have played with our life, and so many died and are still suffering AEFI,” argues a concerned parent from North Goa, asking, “How does the government explain the efficacy of the trial vaccine when it cannot protect the double vaccinated from Omicron?”
Another parent points out, “When the Central government has filed an affidavit in the High Court on October 8, 2021, that vaccination is voluntary and not mandatory, and also said that government of India has not formulated any policy to discriminate people on the status of their vaccination, this administrative order by the Goa government is against the IPC and punishable act?”
There are mixed opinions in the medical fraternity too. It is to be noted that there can be no full-proof trials and also, all results are not out in the public domain as of now. If children on whom the trials may have been done are from other countries, their genetic structure may not match with that of the genetic makeup of Indian children, argue some doctors.
“Hence, it’s a bit risky to go ahead with the vaccination campaign for children aged 12-18, and let’s not show haste in taking crucial decisions in such a delicate matter,” opines a senior child specialist in Goa.
Dr Dhanesh Volvaikar, president of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Goa Chapter opines that the Goa government should allow private paediatricians to give children doses in their clinic. This will decrease hesitancy and increase the confidence of the parents. All paediatricians are experts in the field of vaccination.
Dr Volvaikar states, “All eligible should go for the vaccine. Even if healthy children are not likely to get severe covid, vaccination will reduce transmission and will protect high-risk adults with comorbidities. Covaxin side effects profile is only mild fever, local pain, swelling. It has not shown rare intracranial bleeds like that of Covishield. So, it is very safe.”
A noted paediatrician from Margao, Dr Arvind Almeida suggests that children with comorbidities should be the first to be vaccinated on a priority basis. “There are children who have cardiac diseases, renal problems and other types of ailments, who are age-wise compromised and these should be the first people to get the jabs. It is important to take the vaccine, as the side effects outweigh the need to get vaccinated,” stresses Dr Almeida.
The vaccinations have proved that though the double vaccinated person may test Covid positive, there are no serious effects on their health. “As of now, the children prove to be the reservoirs of the virus. It is stored in their bodies and when they interact with others, they may spread it to them. Not all children show symptoms, some are silent carriers, who may give it to others around them, unknowingly. Therefore, it is necessary to vaccinate them at the earliest,” advises Dr Almeida.
Dr Sushma Kirtani noted paediatrician from Panaji also stresses the need to vaccinate children, albeit with all precautionary measures in place. “Children need to be vaccinated not because of Omicron, but because, as carriers, they will spread it to the elderly and co-morbid people in their families. Yes, Omicron is highly infectious and doubles in 48 hours, but it does not travel to the lungs, and mostly remains in the throat area. But we have to get children on board to develop herd immunity and once this (12-18) group is completed, we can go to the younger kids.”
Going a step ahead, noted paediatric super-specialist in Goa Dr Sanjay Khope has made double vaccination certificate of adults and antigen of children compulsory for attending and availing his clinic facilities. Commenting on the latest decision to vaccinate children of 12-18, Dr Khope says, “Covaxin trials have been proved to be safe and recommended for children. We cannot vaccinate only adults and leave children without the jab and expect them to attend online classes forever.”
