Covid-19: Why the STIKO recommends vaccination from 12 onwards
Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.
More posts by Christiane Fux All content is checked by medical journalists.Reassessment: The German Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) has updated its vaccination recommendation and is now in favor of immunizing all children and adolescents from the age of 12 against Covid-19. What are the reasons?
After carefully evaluating new scientific observations and data, the STIKO experts come to the conclusion "that, according to the current state of knowledge, the advantages of vaccination outweigh the risk of very rare vaccination side effects". This clears the way for vaccination campaigns in schools, for example.
Data from 10 million vaccinated children
So far, the STIKO had only recommended vaccinations in this age group for previously ill children and adolescents with a high risk of severe disease - as well as those with family members at risk and all those who work in professions with people at risk or a high risk of infection. In Austria and Switzerland, on the other hand, young people have been vaccinated for months, regardless of their individual risk - just like in the USA or Israel.
The updated recommendation of the STIKO is based primarily on observations of 10 million vaccinated children and adolescents from the USA, write the members of the commission in a statement. "Possible risks of vaccination for this age group can now be quantified and assessed more reliably," said the experts.
New data, new assessment
In fact, the previous recommendation was based on observations that can or must be assessed differently in the meantime.
Illness risk: Children and adolescents in Germany have a low risk of getting seriously ill with Covid-19. In principle, this assessment remains valid. With the spread of the delta variant, the risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 has now increased significantly for children and adolescents - and with it the risk of complications.
Heart muscle inflammation is usually uncomplicated: Heart muscle inflammation in temporal connection with mRNA vaccinations, which mainly affect boys and young men, is currently the subject of controversy.
In the meantime, however, we know that in the majority of cases, with appropriate medical care, these are uncomplicated, according to the STIKO experts. In addition, recent studies from abroad have indicated that Covid 19 disease itself can affect the heart.
No signals for further serious side effects: The level of knowledge about rare side effects of the new mRNA vaccines in this age group was initially low, according to the commission. So far, however, there have been no signals of further serious side effects after mRNA vaccination, especially not in children and adolescents.
Influence of children on the spread: According to model calculations, the vaccination of the age group at that time would have had little influence on the further course of the spread of the infection in Germany. In this regard, too, the delta variant could change the infection process.
Uncertain long-covid risks: According to the STIKO, it is still unclear whether, how often and how severely children and adolescents develop late and long-term consequences in the course of a Sars-CoV-2 infection.
STIKO: No disadvantages for unvaccinated children!
However, unvaccinated children and adolescents should not fear any disadvantages compared to those who have been vaccinated. The STIKO expressly speaks out against "making vaccinations a prerequisite for social participation in children and adolescents."
Pediatricians appeal: "Don't forget psychosocial aspects"
Pediatricians should welcome the recommendation. Collateral damage in the psychosocial development of children and adolescents was previously not taken into account in the STIKO vaccination recommendation, says Thomas Fischbach, President of the German Society for Child and Adolescent Medicine, to the Funke median group.
According to Fischbach, around one million of 4.5 million children and adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 have been vaccinated so far (as of August 12, 2021). In Austria it is a little under 4 percent of the under 15-year-olds and around 37 percent of the 15 to 24-year-olds. In Switzerland and Liechtenstein, around 2 percent of the age group between 10 and 19 years of age had themselves vaccinated with the mRNA vaccines from Moderna and BioNTech / Pfizer.
Comprehensive information on the subject can be found in the article: "Corona vaccinations for children and adolescents".
