May 17, 2021
Every week, we’ll answer your questions on Covid-19 and health in a feature published online. You can submit a question here.
As Adults Are Getting Vaccinated, Will More Kids Get Covid?
HuffPost UK reader Elaine asked: “As we continue to vaccinate more and more adults, will that ‘push’ the virus more to our children?”
People in their mid-thirties are now being vaccinated as part of the UK’s drive to give all adults their first dose of the Covid-19 jab before the end of July. But what does this mean for the nation’s children? Will getting every adult jabbed simply push the virus on to kids in the next few months?
When Covid-19 first emerged at the start of 2020, children seemed less likely to be impacted by symptoms – and many were asymptomatic. However since then, new variants have emerged, including the so-called Kent and India variants, which do appear to impact kids more than previous mutations. 
While case rates are currently pretty low in the UK, we know that rates are highest in those aged 10 to 19 years old, according to data from Public Health England (PHE). In contrast, the lowest case rates are among those aged 80 and above, most of whom should now be fully vaccinated with both doses.
There are concerns that the new variant circulating in the UK – B1617.2, which originated in India – is more transmissible than previous ones. And in Singapore, most schools are being shut from this week, Reuters reports, as the new variant appears to be impacting more children. 
“Some of these mutations are much more virulent, and they seem to attack the younger children,” Singapore’s education minister Chan Chun Sing has said. None of the children infected with the new strain had become seriously ill, though a few had mild symptoms, he added.
Meanwhile, data from Bedford in the UK, where cases of the B1617.2 variant are rising, show case rates are highest in those aged 11- to 22-years-old, the Mirror reports.
So should we be worried? Submit a Coronavirus health question to HuffPost UK.Cases, hospitalisations and deaths have significantly reduced since the peak of the second wave after Christmas, which is obviously good news. However infections do appear to be more prevalent in younger age groups now. 
“The age-related way in which the vaccination programme has been organised means that the average age of those potentially susceptible to infection will be getting lower and lower,” says Dr Stephen Griffin from University of Leeds’ School of Medicine. We know children don’t tend to suffer with the virus as severely as adults do. However in rare cases, children can become very ill with complications from Covid and can also experience long-term symptoms that last for months.
With that in mind, Dr Griffin believes we need to be accelerating vaccination for children. The vaccines currently issued in the UK are suitable for different age groups: the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is suitable for people aged 16 and over, while the AstraZeneca/Oxford and Moderna vaccines are approved for over-18s.
“The resurgence of the virus last year and earlier in 2021 had a clear bias towards younger people in terms of the number of cases,” says Dr Griffin.
“This naturally included under 30s, adolescents and younger children, and it is accepted that schools can be both a site of outbreaks and a reservoir of infection, mirroring prevalence in the community as a whole.
“It was also clear that once schools returned in March, cases in young children accelerated, but this was thankfully blunted by school holidays.”Experts agree that the vaccines offer the best path through this pandemic – and that vaccinating adults first was definitely the right move. 
Dr Liz Whittaker, a clinical lecturer in infectious diseases and immunology at Imperial College London, tells HuffPost UK: “As we continue to vaccinate more and more of the adult population, there will be less community transmission which will protect children from infection.”
But some believe that vaccinating children should now be accelerated as a priority – especially as mask-wearing is no longer mandatory for pupils in schools and colleges in England. “We must ensure that [the vaccinations] are deployed to the maximum possible effect, and to the benefit of all,” says Dr Griffin. “We must consider children when organising our vaccine programmes.”
A number of trials have been ongoing involving those under 18. One such trial with the Pfizer jab has found the vaccine is safe and strongly protective among children as young as 12.
“We know from recent, well-run trials that the vaccines are safe to give to even relatively young primary school children,” says Dr Griffin, “and this should avoid the growing numbers of children that are developing long Covid, as well as the thankfully much smaller – but certainly not insignificant – number of children that become seriously unwell.”
It’s possible that a vaccine suitable for teens could be available by autumn 2020. However the World Health Organisation (WHO) has suggested that wealthier nations postpone plans to vaccinate young people and instead donate vaccines to low-income countries so they can vaccinate their adult populations.
Experts are still learning about Covid-19. The information in this story is what was known or available at the time of publication, but guidance could change as scientists discover more about the virus. To keep up to date with health advice and cases in your area, visit gov.uk/coronavirus and nhs.uk.Related...What's The Deal With The Covid Vaccine And Kids?‘A 6-Year-Old In A 90-Year-Old’s Body’ – The Children Devastated By Long CovidCan I Go On Holiday To Amber List Countries?People 35 And Over To Be Offered Covid Jab, Matt Hancock SaysOperation Un-Mask: Will We Ever Stop Wearing Face Coverings?
Related Stories
Latest News
Top news around the world
Academy Awards

‘Oppenheimer’ Reigns at Oscars With Seven Wins, Including Best Picture and Director

Get the latest news about the 2024 Oscars, including nominations, winners, predictions and red carpet fashion at 96th Academy Awards

Around the World

Politic
Mary Trump 'energized' as uncle 'Donald's campaign spirals into chaos'
Mar 29, 2024
Donald Trump's campaign is in chaos, and his niece says she's energized.Mary Trump, the niece of the former president and a psychologist by trade, has previously been critical of her uncle.On Thursday, she said her uncle's failures are adding up.ALSO READ: A neuroscientist reveals how Trump and Biden's cognitive impairments are different"As the RNC’s fundraising falters and Donald’s campaign spirals into chaos, I am energized!" she said in a Substack post.She then continued:"When Donald dominates the news cycle, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed. Every bad headline has a negative impact. But then I remember something crucial: There’s usually more to the story than meets the eye. I’m determined to cut through the media noise and share with you all the good that happened this week. These are the headlines we need to remain energized and hopeful that the media largely ignored."Mary Trump goes on to highlight President Joe Biden's recent fundraising hauls."President Biden’s $155 million+ war chest has just received another turbo boost, bringing the total of cash on hand to at least $180 million. (By comparison, between his campaign and the RNC, Donald barely has over $50 million — and continues to drain the accounts to cover his absolutely staggering legal expenses)," she wrote. "This is a development that could significantly increase Biden’s ability to influence the narrative in crucial swing states."This, she says, also tells us a lot about voter excitement for Biden."While critics have expressed doubts about the degree to which the Democratic base is fired up as compared to 2020, today’s $25 million fundraiser, raised with donations ranging from $250 to $500,000, should put any doubts to rest — yes, we are absolutely behind President Biden and Vice President Harris and we’re in this fight until the end," she wrote.Read the full post here.
READ MORE
Celebrity News

> Latest News in Media

Watch It
Ruby Franke’s Husband REVEALS Alleged Rules He Had to Follow at Home | E! News
March 28, 2024
_mU-3lE2QwI
#KenanThompson speaks out following the #QuietonSet documentary. (🎥: Tamron Hall Show) #shorts
March 28, 2024
8AGP-Gfw_Ek
King Charles Shares "Great Sadness" at Missing Royal Appearance | E! News
March 28, 2024
lyizFqf1kQY
Martha Reeves Walk of Fame Ceremony
March 27, 2024
QzyezumEPtQ
Eminem, 50 Cent & Snoop Dogg Present Dr. Dre with a Star on the Walk of Fame
March 19, 2024
4bNLs1hxVp8
Opening Remarks for the Variety Summit October 20th, 2023 Jay Penske
March 18, 2024
c6Z707iLq8E
Montell Jordan Dishes On Young MC Wedding, 'This Is How Date Night' Plans | TMZ
March 28, 2024
G3SMExj-qio
Davina Potratz Says TV Not Helping 'Selling Sunset' Relationship Woes | TMZ
March 28, 2024
D4piy4GNm4k
Logan Paul Rips Graham Bensinger Over Documentary, You Promised Apple TV+ | TMZ Live
March 28, 2024
NiSDpZhZklQ
Prince William pinned royal medal to Spice Girl Mel B’s boobs #shorts
March 28, 2024
O1cQ0UW9pco
Jennifer Garner shares ‘hard’ part of raising her and Ben Affleck’s kids
March 28, 2024
3Q7mZaVUdgc
50 Cent's ex Daphne Joy named as an alleged sex worker in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs lawsuit #shorts
March 28, 2024
yhLFI8DG9rM
TV Schedule
Late Night Show
Watch the latest shows of U.S. top comedians

Sports

Latest sport results, news, videos, interviews and comments
Latest Events
28
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
PSG W - Hacken W
28
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Barcelona W - SK Brann W
27
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Chelsea W - Ajax W
27
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Lyon W - SL Benfica W
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Atletico Madrid - Barcelona
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester United - Liverpool
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Inter Milan - Napoli
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Chelsea - Leicester City
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Roma - Sassuolo
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Verona - AC Milan
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Genoa
16
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Darmstadt - Bayern Munich
16
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester City - Newcastle United
16
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Fulham - Tottenham Hotspur
16
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Osasuna - Real Madrid
13
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Atletico Madrid - Inter Milan
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Barcelona - Napoli
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Arsenal - Porto
Find us on Instagram
at @feedimo to stay up to date with the latest.
Featured Video You Might Like
zWJ3MxW_HWA L1eLanNeZKg i1XRgbyUtOo -g9Qziqbif8 0vmRhiLHE2U JFCZUoa6MYE UfN5PCF5EUo 2PV55f3-UAg W3y9zuI_F64 -7qCxIccihU pQ9gcOoH9R8 g5MRDEXRk4k
Copyright © 2020 Feedimo. All Rights Reserved.