By Chantalé Fletcher
CHILDREN have been receiving vaccinations from the age of two months.
This according to head of the Department of Pediatrics and San Fernando General Hospital Dr Jose Nunez, who spoke at the Ministry of Health virtual presser on Wednesday.
“Vaccinations are nothing new,” he stated.
Dr Nunez said one benefit of vaccinating children was to prevent Covid-19.
He said the Delta variant created a harmful effect on children in the United States.
Dr Nunez said headlines in the US that noted that pediatric hospitals were in peril as Delta hits children.
He urged children, adults and parents to get vaccinated.
Dr Nunez said, “When you hear the children’s hospital in Dallas, Mississippi, USA being full with children and having to open up most space is a serious problem… and we hope it never reaches to that stage.”
Preventing Transmissions
He said, “It is very common for children to be transmitters, passing on these infections.”
Dr Nunez added that if children were vaccinated, there was less chance to spreading the virus to grandparents and teachers.
In addition, he said that vaccinating children will be a part of the herd immunity approach.
Dr Nunez said, “Vaccination is prevention and you need weeks before you get a full immune response.
“It doesn’t make sense to give them a vaccine when there’s already an outbreak. People will be much more at ease if teachers and students have had their vaccines, so if there’s a case of Covid in the class; you’ll look out for symptoms but the school doesn’t shut down.”
He said that protecting children meant cross-protection for children who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons.
Dr Nunez said the risk of myocarditis from the Pfizer vaccine was very low.
He said, “It was a self-limiting condition which meant that it will get better on its own and children make full recovery.
“Children should avoid strenuous exercise for at least one week after the vaccine and especially the second dose as it is more important for children who are very athletic.”
Shortness, chest pains or palpitations are common symptoms, he added.
Dr Nunez said, “Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C) is when children who have already had Covid-19, four to six weeks before, where some of them have become asymptomatic.
“We know they had it because we are checking for anti-bodies in their bloods and it comes back positive.”
Dr Nunez said, “If your child after having had Covid starts to have fever again, please see a doctor. They usually require hospital treatment; we are on the lookout for these children but if it’s picked up early it is treatable.”
