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Throughout the past year, the term “herd immunity” has been a frequent topic of discussion. We desire it and are gradually approaching it, but do we truly grasp its meaning? And is it genuinely achievable when numerous individuals remain resistant to scientific evidence, vaccinations, and safety measures?
Let’s explore what experts—those dedicated professionals in medicine and research—have to say.
What is Herd Immunity?
So, what exactly is herd immunity? The Mayo Clinic defines it as “Herd immunity occurs when a significant portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the transmission of the disease between individuals unlikely. Consequently, the entire community gains protection—not just those who are immune.” Achieving this goal is indeed possible, but it requires a higher vaccination rate, including among children, particularly as many adults are hesitant or refuse to get vaccinated.
According to The Atlantic, “In many places, adults are delaying vaccination, and surveys show that one-fifth are outright refusing it.” If this trend continues, vaccinating children will be crucial for any hope of achieving herd immunity.
The Risks of Unvaccinated Children
It’s vital to recognize that children can transmit the virus. Having unvaccinated children in close contact with each other poses a risk, especially if their caregivers are also unvaccinated. The notion that “children can’t get seriously ill from Covid-19” is misleading. Although children tend to fare better than older adults or those with compromised immune systems, they can still suffer serious health issues. There are ongoing reports of children being hospitalized, experiencing long-term symptoms, or, tragically, losing their lives due to Covid-19. The long-term effects of this virus on both children and adults remain uncertain.
Therefore, for several reasons—both for their own health and the well-being of society as a whole—it is imperative that we vaccinate as many children as possible, and soon.
Addressing Parental Hesitancy
However, many parents are hesitant, often due to a lack of information about the vaccine. Medical professionals attribute this reluctance to a misunderstanding of the risks Covid-19 poses to children. Yes, while the chances of severe illness in children are lower than in adults, we must consider pediatric deaths in absolute terms.
Hundreds of children have succumbed to a preventable illness, and thousands have faced serious illness. The Atlantic indicates, “It’s challenging to determine the exact number of children hospitalized due to COVID-19, but approximately 14,000 have been counted in just 24 states that publicly report such data. The total number in the U.S. is likely much higher. Over 3,000 children have developed a severe complication known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C, in the weeks following a Covid-19 infection.”
Dr. Samuel Harris, an infectious disease specialist at a prominent children’s hospital, emphasizes, “The number of children who have been hospitalized and died is significant and troubling.” Moreover, as the virus continues to mutate, the effectiveness of vaccines against new variants underscores the urgency of vaccinating our children.
The Increasing Impact on Youth
A study revealed that “the rate of hospitalization among individuals under 19 has increased more than eightfold throughout the pandemic,” with one-third of those hospitalized requiring intensive care. Alarmingly, the percentage of hospitalized Covid-19 patients who are children has risen from 0.8 percent last May to 2 percent presently.
Thus, young people are not immune to Covid-19, and vaccination is crucial as the virus increasingly affects the youth.
Comparisons to Other Vaccines
The New England Journal of Medicine offers a sobering perspective: “Imagine a highly contagious virus circulating in the community. Many infected children may have mild symptoms but recover with no issues; however, devastating complications can occur, leading to hospitalizations, severe illness, and even fatalities. Would you want your child vaccinated against this disease? … You might think we were discussing measles.”
Yet, we already vaccinate our children against measles—a disease that some children withstand with little consequence while others suffer severe outcomes. Thanks to vaccination, measles has been largely eradicated.
The Benefits of Vaccination
Experts in pediatrics and infectious diseases emphasize that “Vaccinating children provides both direct benefits (protecting them from rare severe cases of Covid-19 and post-infectious conditions like MIS-C) and indirect benefits (reducing the spread to others).” These indirect benefits also alleviate the burden of parental illness, economic challenges, and chronic stress on families.
The authors note that many parents historically hesitated or refused the measles vaccine, despite being more supportive of the polio vaccine, because kids often survived measles. Sound familiar?
Here we are again, with a vaccine that could shield our children and help restore some semblance of normalcy, yet significant numbers of parents are refusing to vaccinate. This reluctance could turn the dream of herd immunity into a distant hope, which is indeed disheartening.
Countering Misinformation
The New England Journal of Medicine states, “Many Americans express skepticism regarding the safety of Covid-19 vaccines, a sentiment that’s unsurprising in a climate where mask-wearing is politicized and social media amplifies doubts about the seriousness—or even the existence—of SARS-CoV-2.”
It is crucial to counter misinformation with facts, medical research, and testimonials from pediatricians and infectious disease specialists who advocate for the vaccine’s safety and efficacy.
Infectious disease expert Dr. Mia Thompson states, “Current reports indicate that the vaccine not only elicits a strong immune response but is also very safe for children and adolescents.” This vaccine has demonstrated “100% efficacy and robust antibody responses.”
Dr. Thompson adds, “Children’s immune systems, including those of very young children, generally respond vigorously to vaccines, and it appears to be no different with this Covid-19 vaccine. Ongoing trials for both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines down to six months of age are expected to yield equally effective results.”
Conclusion
In summary, the Covid vaccine is safe and effective. To return to our pre-pandemic lives, we must ensure that more people—of all ages—receive their vaccinations.
For additional information, you can refer to this article which discusses related topics.