What to Know About the COVID-19 Virus and Vaccinations in Pennsylvania Children

M edical R eco R d F eatu R e

What to Know About the COVID-19 Virus and Vaccinations in Pennsylvania Children

by Rachel Hahn, MPH, Berks Immunization Coalition, Immunization Coalition Coordinator, PA Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics

Can children be infected with COVID-19 at the same rate as adults? What are the side effects of COVID-19 infection in children? Can they suffer from long-term COVID? Is the COVID-19 vaccine needed? These questions, along with many others, have been racing in parents’ minds since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

With the Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines having recently received Emergency Use Authorization from the CDC now for children 6 months to 4 years of age as well older children and adolescents, the side effects of COVID 19 and these vaccines is a topic that deserves to be addressed and clarified for parents in Berks County.

Circulating unscientific reports give the impression that the side effects of the vaccination are worse than the effects of being infected with the actual virus. These reports are often propagated through avenues such as social media. For example, a common misconception is that myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle, is a likely side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine when in reality, it is more likely to develop from a COVID-19 infection. According to CDC data updated on May 4, 2022, the overall risk of heart conditions after a COVID-19 infection is higher than after the first shot. Taking all ages, genders, and both vaccine doses into account, the risk of a heart issue after a COVID-19 infection was anywhere from 1.8-5.6 times higher when compared to vaccination.1

In the U.S., children under age 18 are contracting COVID-19 at the same rate as adults. As of May 26, 2022, over 13 million children have tested positive for COVID-19.2 The symptoms of the COVID-19 virus are similar in both adults and children, as is the risk of developing long-term effects from the infection. While the symptoms of the disease in children are mild in most cases, the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine can be even milder and are shorter in duration. The side effects that occur from the COVID vaccination are no different from the side effects that amount (substitute arise for amount) from any other routine childhood immunization. These side effects can include a sore arm at the injection site, mild fever, headache, chills, nausea, and tiredness, and all typically subside 24-48 hours after receiving the vaccine. Children can also receive the COVID-19 vaccine simultaneously as their other routine immunizations, like the influenza vaccine.

Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, there has been a decline in routine childhood and adolescent immunizations. According to recent Pennsylvania data, more than three-quarters of providers continued on next page >

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M edical R eco R d F eatu R e What to Know About the COVID-19 Virus and Vaccinations in Pennsylvania Children

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in the state reported having to close at some point during the pandemic, which resulted in thousands of missed routine childhood visits. Recently, the Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition (PAIC) conducted research on the difference in routine childhood and adolescent immunization rates from 2018 to 2021, pre- and mid-pandemic.3 The goal of this research was to determine if any counties in Pennsylvania were susceptible to outbreaks of preventable diseases due to diminished immunization rates. The data for this research was taken from the Pennsylvania State Immunization Law Report (SILR), which is accessible through the PA Department of Health website and includes the following

vaccines: measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); polio; chickenpox (Varicella); hepatitis B; diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (Dtap/ DTP/DT); tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap/Td); and meningococcal disease (MCV). When looking at the childhood vaccines (Dtap/DTP/DT, HepB, MMR, and Polio), there was a less than 1% decrease from 2018 to the 2020-2021 school year. However, when looking at the adolescent doses of vaccines, there was approximately a 4% decrease (~10,000 students) in the same date range. Looking at this data, it’s clear that the pandemic not only has an impact on children regarding COVID-19, but it also has an effect on routine medical visits and immunizations that take place throughout their lives.

Another common question is whether to vaccinate your child even if they have already contracted COVID-19. The short answer – yes. Although contracting the virus provides a form of natural immunity, it does not last as long as the immunity provided by the vaccine. People who already had COVID-19 and do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more likely to get COVID-19 again.4 Not only does the vaccine provide stronger immunity, but vaccinating your child also decreases transmission from new variants. The virus transmits efficiently between unvaccinated children and adults — getting vaccinated reduces the virus’ chance of mutating into new, potentially more dangerous variants.

Valuable vaccination work is underway worldwide that allows us to answer these questions and provide resources for county residents, including work that is being done right here in Berks County. Working underneath the umbrella of the PA Immunization Coalition (PAIC) and the PA American Academy of Pediatrics, the Berks Immunization Coalition (BIC) is an organization that promotes recommended immunizations for all Berks County residents across the lifespan. Berks County currently has over 62% of its residents fully vaccinated for COVID-19, ranking it in the top 30% of all Pennsylvania counties.5 To improve these numbers, the Berks Immunization Coalition is conducting various campaigns throughout the county. Currently, the coalition is advocating for COVID-19 vaccinations with billboard and bus advertisements (see photos of ads to left and on page 23). These advertisements will collect millions of impressions throughout their run and direct viewers to the COVID Resources page at HelpFightCOVID. com. On this page, visitors can find scientific and reputable information about COVID-19, the COVID-19 vaccine, and how and where to receive their vaccine. In addition, the BIC is advertising with commercials on Q102 Philly and Y102 Reading with ads airing every day that direct listeners to the same webpage as the billboard and bus advertisements. For more information on the BIC, scan the QR codes to be taken to their webpage on the PAIC website or the BIC Twitter page!

I vaxxed my kid.

because nearly 1 in 5 COVID-19 cases are in children.

The vaccine is safe and effective for children and adolescents.

helpfightcovid.com

1 “Cardiac Complications After SARS-CoV-2 Infection and mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination — PCORnet, United States, January 2021–January 2022”, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https:// www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7114e1.htm#:~:text=Previous%20CDC%20 estimates%20found%20the,19%20vaccine%20dose%20(5). 2 “Children and COVID-19: State-Level Data Report”, Critical Updates on COVID-19, American Academy of Pediatrics, last modified May 19, 2022, https://www.aap. org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/children-and-covid-19state-level-data- report/#:~:text=Since%20the%20pandemic%20began%2C%20 children,hospitalizations%20and%20mortality%20by%20age. 3 “Pennsylvania Routine Immunization Rates: Pre-Pandemic and Now (2018-2021)”, Blog, Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition, last modified May 17, 2022, https:// www.immunizepa.org/pennsylvania-routine-immunization-rates-pre-pandemic-andnow-2018-2021/ 4 “Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine”, COVID-19 – Vaccines, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last modified March 4, 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/vaccines/expect.html. 5 “COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard”, Coronavirus Vaccine, Pennsylvania Department of Health, last modified June 8, 2022, https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/ Vaccine/Pages/Dashboard.aspx