To the Editor:
The time has come to vaccinate children younger than 12 years of age against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.1 Issues regarding the reliability, safety, and efficacy of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have complicated the process of immunizing children, in addition to the decision of parents to vaccinate their children.2 Without international universal consensus, pediatric societies in various countries are establishing childhood COVID-19 vaccination positions.3, 4, 5, 6, 7
The American Academy of Pediatrics,3 the Israel Pediatric Association,4 the Canadian Paediatric Society,5 and the Spanish Association of Pediatrics6 have publicly recommended vaccination of children 5 years of age and older. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics7 has declared itself in favor of vaccinating children between 2 and 18 years of age.
This growing consensus should serve to reassure the general population and parents about the logical fears about pediatric vaccinations serve as a valuable tool for health professionals but also for social communicators, scientific disseminators, social organizations, educators, managers, and politicians in charge of vaccination campaigns. In turn, the support of the different national pediatric societies, as authoritative opinions, should serve to improve public confidence and guide the actions of COVID-19 childhood vaccination.
Footnotes
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
References
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