Can we get out of the COVID pandemic without adequate vaccination coverage in the pediatric population?
Abstract Background During the first and second COVID-19 pandemic waves, children, despite susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, appeared at lower risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death than adults and the elderly. Moreover, they seemed to play a minor role in the diffusion of the virus....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Italian Journal of Pediatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-022-01339-x |
| _version_ | 1818000828760326144 |
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| author | Susanna Esposito Rosanna Giordano Giulia Paini Matteo Puntoni Nicola Principi Caterina Caminiti |
| author_facet | Susanna Esposito Rosanna Giordano Giulia Paini Matteo Puntoni Nicola Principi Caterina Caminiti |
| author_sort | Susanna Esposito |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background During the first and second COVID-19 pandemic waves, children, despite susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, appeared at lower risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death than adults and the elderly. Moreover, they seemed to play a minor role in the diffusion of the virus. The aim of this manuscript is to show epidemiological surveillance on COVID-19 incidence and hospitalization in the pediatric cohort in order to explain the importance of an adequate COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the pediatric population. Methods All subjects with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed in Parma, Italy, between February 21st, 2020, and January, 31st, 2022, were recruited in this epidemiological surveillance. Diagnosis of infection was established in presence of at least one respiratory specimen positive for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid using a validated real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Results The number of COVID-19 pediatric cases remained very low and lower than that recorded in the general population between early February 2020 and the end of October 2021, despite in the last part of this period the Delta variant emerged. On the contrary, starting from November 2021, a sharp and significant increase in COVID-19 incidence in the pediatric population was evidenced. This was detected in all the age groups, although greater in the populations aged 5–11 and 12–17 years old. Interestingly, the peak in hospitalization rate was observed in children < 5 years old, for whom COVID-19 vaccination is not approved yet. At the beginning of November 2021 among people older than 18 years of age 85.7% had completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccine. Almost all the infants and pre-school children were susceptible. Until January 31st, 2022, 80.4% of adolescents aged 11–17 years had received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccine and only 52.4% received the booster. Among children 5–11 years old, on January 31st, 2022, only 28.5% had received at least one vaccine dose. Conclusions Compared with adults and the elderly, presently a greater proportion of children and adolescents is susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and could play a relevant role for the prolongation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only a rapid increase in vaccination coverage of the pediatric populations can effectively counter this problem. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T03:26:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d791cf5cff1f4177aa63db69c56fbec1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1824-7288 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T03:26:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-d791cf5cff1f4177aa63db69c56fbec12022-12-22T02:15:09ZengBMCItalian Journal of Pediatrics1824-72882022-08-014811410.1186/s13052-022-01339-xCan we get out of the COVID pandemic without adequate vaccination coverage in the pediatric population?Susanna Esposito0Rosanna Giordano1Giulia Paini2Matteo Puntoni3Nicola Principi4Caterina Caminiti5Department of Medicine and Surgery, Pediatric Clinic, University of ParmaDepartment of Public Health, AUSL ParmaDepartment of Public Health, AUSL ParmaResearch and Innovation Unit, University Hospital of ParmaUniversità degli Studi di MilanoResearch and Innovation Unit, University Hospital of ParmaAbstract Background During the first and second COVID-19 pandemic waves, children, despite susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, appeared at lower risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death than adults and the elderly. Moreover, they seemed to play a minor role in the diffusion of the virus. The aim of this manuscript is to show epidemiological surveillance on COVID-19 incidence and hospitalization in the pediatric cohort in order to explain the importance of an adequate COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the pediatric population. Methods All subjects with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed in Parma, Italy, between February 21st, 2020, and January, 31st, 2022, were recruited in this epidemiological surveillance. Diagnosis of infection was established in presence of at least one respiratory specimen positive for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid using a validated real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Results The number of COVID-19 pediatric cases remained very low and lower than that recorded in the general population between early February 2020 and the end of October 2021, despite in the last part of this period the Delta variant emerged. On the contrary, starting from November 2021, a sharp and significant increase in COVID-19 incidence in the pediatric population was evidenced. This was detected in all the age groups, although greater in the populations aged 5–11 and 12–17 years old. Interestingly, the peak in hospitalization rate was observed in children < 5 years old, for whom COVID-19 vaccination is not approved yet. At the beginning of November 2021 among people older than 18 years of age 85.7% had completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccine. Almost all the infants and pre-school children were susceptible. Until January 31st, 2022, 80.4% of adolescents aged 11–17 years had received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccine and only 52.4% received the booster. Among children 5–11 years old, on January 31st, 2022, only 28.5% had received at least one vaccine dose. Conclusions Compared with adults and the elderly, presently a greater proportion of children and adolescents is susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and could play a relevant role for the prolongation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only a rapid increase in vaccination coverage of the pediatric populations can effectively counter this problem.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-022-01339-xCOVID-19COVID-19 vaccinesEpidemiologyPediatric infectious diseasesSARS-CoV-2 |
| spellingShingle | Susanna Esposito Rosanna Giordano Giulia Paini Matteo Puntoni Nicola Principi Caterina Caminiti Can we get out of the COVID pandemic without adequate vaccination coverage in the pediatric population? Italian Journal of Pediatrics COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccines Epidemiology Pediatric infectious diseases SARS-CoV-2 |
| title | Can we get out of the COVID pandemic without adequate vaccination coverage in the pediatric population? |
| title_full | Can we get out of the COVID pandemic without adequate vaccination coverage in the pediatric population? |
| title_fullStr | Can we get out of the COVID pandemic without adequate vaccination coverage in the pediatric population? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can we get out of the COVID pandemic without adequate vaccination coverage in the pediatric population? |
| title_short | Can we get out of the COVID pandemic without adequate vaccination coverage in the pediatric population? |
| title_sort | can we get out of the covid pandemic without adequate vaccination coverage in the pediatric population |
| topic | COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccines Epidemiology Pediatric infectious diseases SARS-CoV-2 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-022-01339-x |
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