Reference:
Benn, C. S., & Aaby, P. (2021). Should COVID-19 be a vaccine disease or a childhood disease? The BMJ, 374, n1687. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1687
Summary:
The article discusses the implications of COVID-19 vaccination for children, highlighting concerns over the safety and necessity of such measures. It critiques the small sample size of the Pfizer phase 3 trial, revealing that vaccinated adolescents experienced a threefold higher risk of severe adverse events compared to unvaccinated peers. Additionally, it raises questions about the potential negative non-specific effects of vaccination, which could increase susceptibility to other diseases. The authors argue that instead of treating COVID-19 solely as a vaccine-preventable illness, it might be more beneficial to allow the virus to circulate among children, who generally experience milder cases. This could foster natural immunity and help COVID-19 transition into a common childhood illness, similar to other coronaviruses. The authors conclude that not vaccinating children could protect them from unknown vaccine-related harms while expediting herd immunity, allowing resources to be redirected towards other pressing health issues.