The famous Dr. John Campbell alerts the population with his analysis of the benefit-risk ratio of the vaccine in children.
Preliminary analysis of a very comprehensive study in Singapore shows that 22 children had severe side effects over the same period, while only 5 had severe IVCOD requiring oxygenation, and only one of these was not vaccinated. As for the dreaded MIS-C complication, there were 6 cases in all, four of which were not vaccinated. The results are therefore very mixed, especially since the proportion of long COVIDs is reduced with Omicron.
Strong controversies around childhood vaccine
In response to the recent controversy in the United Kingdom, Dr. Hamid Merchant of the University’s Department of Pharmacy, wrote an article published in March 2022, explaining why we should not rush into mass vaccination of young children and how vaccination of another type may be beneficial, such as the nasal COVID vaccine that is expected to be approved soon “We should not rush with a one-size-fits-all approach, especially when there is a product that would be more beneficial for children.”
The article, “Why COVID vaccines for young children (5-11 years) are not essential at this time,” published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, agrees with the conclusions of the UK government’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) not to propose a mandatory mass vaccination program and explains why current vaccines will not work best in children in terms of effectiveness and safety.
Reasoned scientific discussion is prevented
“Often, scientists and public health professionals fear that openly discussing these issues will jeopardize the adoption of the “conventional” vaccine,” said Dr. Merchant, “but it’s time for us to explain the science of vaccines and the differences between different vaccine formulations, as a number of vaccine products are now approved by regulatory agencies. We shouldn’t rush in with a one-size-fits-all approach, especially when there is a product that would be more beneficial for children.”
“At the beginning of the vaccine program, there was not enough information available, so by explaining how the different vaccine formulations work and which ones are safest given pre-existing medical conditions, we allow the public to become informed to make an educated decision for their children.
Dr. Merchant believes it is imperative to continue to study the next generation of COVID vaccines for all those who remain at high risk for emerging variants in the future.
He explains that a more pediatrically appropriate vaccine formulation, such as the COVID nasal vaccine, should be approved soon. Bharat Biotech’s Covid19 intranasal vaccine, for example, is in “final” development and could be ready soon if all goes well.