Thread by @Williams_T_C

really excellent editorial @NEJM by @PerriKlass & @AdamRatnerMD on key issues surrounding vaccination of children against SARS-CoV-2 nejm.org/doi/full/10.10… 1/n

firstly: why should we vaccinate?
-to protect children, who can (rarely) develop severe disease, require hospitalisation, and (very rarely) die
-to protect vulnerable individuals who have contact with children
-to achieve herd immunity: 21% of UK population aged under 18 2/n

secondly, what do we need to vaccinate children?
-a vaccine that robustly protects against severe disease AND prevents transmission
-robust safety data, including paediatric-focused studies & post-licensure monitoring for potential rare outcomes like vaccine-associated MIS-C 3/n

thirdly, what do we need to get buy-in from parents?
-share with them the importance of immunising children, including the considerable indirect benefits (as we do with influenza)
-earn & maintain trust
-ensure that vaccines are distributed equitably and transparently 4/n

there is (increasingly acrimonious) debate about the viability of a #ZeroCovid strategy

but it is becoming increasingly clear that a fully immunised (adults & children) population is going to be needed to maintain low SARS-CoV-2 infection rates
spiral.imperial.ac.uk/bitstream/1004… 5/n

let's not wait, but start the conversation NOW about immunising children

so that everything is in place to start once vaccine stocks become available 6/n

let's be inspired by the Abhinav, a 12 year old volunteer in the @PfizerBioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine trial:

“I think that it could really benefit the world, and I think it could also help scientists know more about the coronavirus” nbcnews.com/news/us-news/m…

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