IT was in May that the USA opened up its Covid-19 vaccination programme for the 12- to 15-year age group, and by August it was reported that at least half of American teenagers had received one dose. Now South Africa is following suit with the health department’s acting director general, Nicholas Crisp, announcing the Pfizer vaccination programme will include one shot for the 12- to 17-year age group as of 20 October.
If you’re an adolescent in this age group or a parent of a teen, here’s what you need to know…
1. Why are teenagers getting vaccinated?
While adolescents are still less likely to fall ill with Covid-19, they are more susceptible to newer variants resulting in outbreaks at school. The high absenteeism rates and forced closure of schools results in disrupted learning which could have long-term implications. Likewise, children who are unable to get vaccinated because of underlying conditions are further protected from Covid-19.
2. What risk do variants pose?
Recent studies conducted throughout the third wave indicate that a higher proportion of children are contracting the Delta variant than previous forms of Covid-19. Although they are not suffering from more serious symptoms, more in this age group are becoming infected. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) found that, by mid-August, the 15- to 19-year age group was surpassing the number of adults testing positive for Covid-19. A study by the Journal of the American Medical Association indicated that underlying conditions such as diabetes and heart problems increased the risk of adolescents falling seriously ill when infected.
3. Do teenagers need parental approval?
According to the Children’s Act, adolescents aged between 12 and 17 can consent to medical treatment and surgery without their parents’ approval. This means they can legally choose to have – or not have – the vaccination, regardless of what the parents’ views are.
4. Why are they only getting a single dose?
Teenagers are only permitted to get a single dose of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine. Double doses have been fully approved by the US government’s medicines regulator, the Food and Drug Administration, for Americans 16 years and older. However, South Africa’s ministerial advisory committee on Covid-19 vaccines (VMAC) wants more time to gather additional safety data about potential side-effects. Currently, all South Africans aged 18 years or older require two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, taken two weeks apart.
5. What are the risks for teens?
In a US clinical trial of about 2 000 adolescents aged 12-15 years, it was found that this age group had a similar reaction to the vaccine as those aged 16 and older, with the benefits far outweighing the risks. One of the concerns is myocarditis or pericarditis after the vaccination. This is inflammation of the heart and an extremely rare side-effect in only 0.0004% of vaccinated people. And even then, most people who develop these conditions recover within a few days. Scientists agree that the benefits of vaccinating teens far outweigh the risks, with studies indicating that Pfizer provides very high levels of protection against developing symptomatic Covid-19 and against Covid-related hospitalisation.
Although there are no plans for vaccination drives at schools, adolescents can visit any public or private vaccination centre to receive their one-dose Pfizer jab.
*Source: Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism (https://bhekisisa.org/)
