Introduction
Population immunization is currently one of the most effective methods of combating infectious diseases. Vaccination against COVID-19 has helped control the spread of the dreaded disease. Herd immunity against COVID-19 must be achieved by protecting people through vaccination, not by exposing them to the pathogen that causes the disease. Vaccine-induced immunity develops when a person is exposed to an inactivated or weakened version of a pathogen through a vaccine.
It is proposed to pay attention to vulnerable populations, who often lack access to information for self-defense. Since modern vaccines have proven to be safe, it is proposed that all children aged 12-18 be vaccinated to increase herd immunity. To run a half-promotion program, it is necessary to debunk existing myths, prove benefits, and take into account cultural and ethical considerations.
Immunity
Immunity protects the body from viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens, including allergens. Herd immunity is a potential protection against infectious disease that arises from developing immunity in a population (Kudzma & Edelman, 2021). Herd immunity can develop either due to a massively transmitted infection or vaccination. Active immunity occurs when contact with a diseased organism triggers the immune system to respond.
The most relevant for the development of herd immunity and the maintenance of herd health is vaccine-induced immunity. It is acquired by introducing a killed or weakened form of the pathogen through vaccination. This is the safest way to develop an immune response. Passive immunity is provided when a person is injected with antibodies to a disease, rather than having them produced by their own immune system.
Effects of Immunization
Immunization is one option for protecting public health. It is achieved through the use of vaccines with various effects. The main effect of immunization is to create herd immunity. The benefit to the individual is to develop a protective system that will make it easier to prevent the disease from being transferred. Immunization helps to protect society and counter the global spread of the disease.
No statistics are available to indicate how many deaths or serious cases have been avoided due to COVID-19 vaccination. However, vaccination alone can slow down the rate of infection. This fact is both a community and a global benefit. Through immunization, terrible diseases like smallpox have been eradicated. COVID-19 will be no exception, and over time, the spread of the disease will be completely halted.
The advantages of immunization include general health promotion, reduced infectious diseases, and increased overall community health responsibility. An immunized society becomes more responsible; immunization prevents epidemics and defeats diseases that have been the cause of death for centuries. The primary advantage of vaccination against COVID-19 for children is the reduced rate of disease spread.
Global immunization is the only way to slow the rate of infection during a pandemic. At this stage of the fight against the virus, it is essential to pay attention to the child population, even though children are not at a high risk of severe disease consequences. Immunization will only benefit the community, and the public benefit outweighs any risks.
Vulnerable Populations
The vulnerable population is a group of people who require greater protection due to risks. In this proposal, the vulnerable population will be children and adolescents between 12 and 18 years of age. The main risks are related to the fact that many countries do not consider it necessary to vaccinate the population under 18 years of age, which can create prejudice.
Despite public concerns, vaccination of children against COVID-19 has been successful in many countries. In the US, vaccinating children over 12 years of age against COVID-19 is a safe and effective method of combating the spread of the pandemic (AAP, 2021). Children often have many social contacts and can be considered the main spreaders of the infection (Hagan et al., 2017). With the virus’s mutation, children also often encounter cases of severe illness.
Trends and Myths
It is a myth that children cannot become seriously ill because of COVID-19. The trend of COVID-19 cases shows a decrease in cases in September, but a new surge can be expected (Our World in Data, 2022). Vaccine disparities persist in the global community, and many developing countries continue to struggle to provide vaccines to high-risk groups, while the very idea of vaccinating children remains unrealistic.
The bias may be related to myths that children are less seriously ill or to the lack of vaccines to cover the main risk groups. Cuba was the first country in the world to begin vaccinating children as young as 2 years old (Gorry, 2022). American children aged 5 to 11 also became eligible for vaccination (AAP, 2021). The global trend is increasingly towards disapproval of using the vaccine before the age of 18.
The first misconception is that children cannot contract a coronavirus infection. Both severe and fatal cases of this infection have been reported. Another myth concerns the harmful effect on the child’s development after the vaccine. This misconception is debunked as all registered vaccines have been proven safe in clinical trials (Ullah et al., 2021). Vaccination will reduce the risks and protect the health of children.
Many parents are afraid that the vaccine may cause disease. Vaccination does not use a live form of the virus. The fourth myth is related to the general prejudice regarding the underdevelopment of COVID-19 vaccines. More than two years have passed since the pandemic began; existing vaccines are safe (Ullah et al., 2021). The prejudices against vaccinating children and adolescents from COVID-19 are myths.
Pediatric Schedule
There is no pediatric immunization schedule for children, as the COVID-19 vaccination for those under 18 is not mandatory. CDC supports co-administration of routine immunizations for children and adolescents with COVID-19 vaccines (2021). The most relevant link is to the influenza vaccination calendar, which is recommended annually for children over 12 (CDC, 2021). For younger children, the pediatric flu shot schedule does not apply.
The flu shot interval corresponds to the necessary break that should be observed between vaccination and revaccination. It is necessary to make vaccinations against COVID-19 among children a mass phenomenon, according to the recommended interval between vaccinations, which is six months. This period must be observed so that the developed antibodies protect the body from infection. Routine vaccination is essential not only for COVID-19 but for other diseases.
Associated Challenges
Legal Issues
According to the law, every US citizen has the right to receive routine vaccinations. This right must be enforced so that the vaccine is effectively available to those who wish to do it. For COVID-19, vaccination is strictly voluntary; for minors, this decision may be made by their parents or guardians. Disease prevention and health promotion through vaccinations are not against the law, so the program is absolutely legal.
Physicians and governments must collaborate to enhance public health through immunization. It is necessary to unite efforts to make immunization a right and a duty of citizens. Shared responsibility for the spread of COVID-19 already exists, including wearing masks and undergoing regular COVID-19 test checks. These legal and collective measures, along with vaccination, have already stabilized the spread of the disease.
Cultural Issues
The cultural stance can sometimes be opposed, as with the COVID-19 vaccination. The main cultural difficulty to overcome is the mistrust of public health and religious prejudice. Some people, influenced by religious ideas, believe that the original human body does not require such medical interventions. However, the Catholic Church understands the importance of vaccines for protection but prioritizes choices for all believers.
To address this cultural issue, it is essential to emphasize the importance of vaccination in maintaining population health. Cultural biases are a major deterrent against vaccination; most of them are dictated by distrust and fear of the negative consequences. However, the development of modern medical technologies and evidence-based medicine will eventually convince more people that vaccination is safer than disease.
Ethical Issues
There are two ethical dilemmas concerning COVID-19 vaccination: should children be among the first to receive the vaccine, and can they provide informed consent for vaccination due to their age? The risk group who were the first to be vaccinated was the elderly. However, the era of vaccine shortages has passed, and there are enough vaccines to protect all other vulnerable populations, such as children.
As with all other vaccinations, consent to vaccination is given by the parents, who are the child’s legal representatives. Parents should explain to their children the benefits of vaccination and the absence of side effects to raise responsible citizens. The potential benefits of developing herd immunity outweigh the potential risks, so ethical issues must be resolved in favor of vaccination.
Conclusion
Routine vaccination has long been a key method for combating diseases and preventing their spread. Every citizen should have a responsible attitude towards their own and collective health. In the past, many deadly diseases, such as smallpox, have been eradicated through vaccination. COVID-19 will be no exception since it can be combated through vaccination. Despite numerous controversies and myths, vaccination is generally considered safe for both children and adults.
Since there are currently enough vaccines for COVID-19 in the United States, it is necessary to promote vaccination among children aged 12 to 18. Previously, older people were considered a risk group, and vaccination relied primarily on them. Now, there are enough vaccines for everyone, and we need to continue to ensure the development of herd immunity. Universal immunization is the most effective way to combat the pandemic.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2021). COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation in Pediatric Practices. Web.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Table 1. Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for ages 18 years or younger. CDC. Web.
Gorry, C. (2022). Vaccines and Public Trust: Containing COVID-19 in Cuba Verena Muzio-González, PhD, DSc Director of Clinical Research, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center. MEDICC review, 24(1), 9-13. Web.
Hagan J.F., Shaw J.S. & Duncan P.M. (Eds). (2017). Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, 4th ed. American Academy of Pediatrics.
Kudzma, E.C., Edelman, C.L. (2021). Health Promotion throughout the Life Span. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Our World in Data. (2022). COVID-19 Data Explorer. Our World in Data. Web.
Ullah, I., Khan, K. S., Tahir, M. J., Ahmed, A., & Harapan, H. (2021). Myths and conspiracy theories on vaccines and COVID-19: Potential effect on global vaccine refusals. Vacunas, 22(2), 93-97. Web.