WHO Representative in Vietnam Dr Kidong Park. (Photo courtesy of WHO)Hanoi (VNA) – As theCOVID-19 pandemic has still been developing complicatedly in the world, theVietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporter had an interview with WHO Representative in Vietnam Dr Kidong Park about the booster shotand pharmaceutical firms’ announcements that their COVID-19 vaccines are efficient and safe for kids.
The following is the full text of theinterview.
Reporter: What is the World Health Organization(WHO)’s opinion about the necessityto get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot?
Dr Kidong Park: There are two key considerationsguiding WHO’s position on booster doses. Firstis the scientific evidence. WHO is carefully monitoring the rapidly evolvingbody of evidence regarding the need for booster doses. There is currently no conclusiveevidence stating that COVID-19 vaccine efficacy against severe disease anddeath wanes significantly over time.
There are several studies that indicatea decline in effectiveness against mild and moderate infection, however,prevention of severe disease and death is the most relevant outcome that thevaccines are intended to impact. Thereis emerging evidence that the vaccines have remained effective at preventingsevere disease and death.
WHO has not ruled out that boosters forsome populations groups may be warranted in the future. WHO will continue tomonitor any new evidence and will review its position as the data evolve.
The second is the moral and ethicalimplications. Whilsthuge inequities in vaccine rollout continue across the world, the priorityshould be on ensuring that all countries use limited vaccine supplies toprovide high coverage of first and second doses, to priority populations suchas the health workers and frontline responders, elderly and those withunderlying medical conditions.
On August 4, 2021, WHO called for a time-limited moratorium on COVID-19 booster doses untilthe end of September with the intent to allow for at least 10 percent of every population of eachcountry to be vaccinated.
WHO urges all countries to ensure thatall vulnerable populations such as health workers and frontline responders, theelderly and those with underlying medical conditions receive the primary courseof vaccination, prior to providing boosters.
Reporter:Many pharmaceutical brands haverecently announced that their COVID-19 vaccines are efficient and safe for kidsaged 3 years old above. What is WHO’s comment?
Dr Kidong Park: Efficacy and safety profiles of avaccine in children might be different from those of adult. Injection volumefor children might be different from those of adult.
Current evidence suggests that childrenin general are less likely to suffer from severe disease and death followingCOVID-19 infection or disease though children with underlying conditions are atincreased risk of severe illness.
Because of this, COVID-19 vaccines arefirst developed for adult and priorities for vaccination are given to healthcare workers, frontline workers and high risk population such as elderly andpersons with co-morbidities.
After launching the vaccines foradults, the vaccine manufactures have continued its research for vaccines forchildren. To date, there is only one COVID-19 vaccine recommended for childrenfrom 12 – 18 years old by WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts onImmunization (SAGE) and approved by the WHO Emergency Use Listing which is thePfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
We are aware that other vaccinemanufacturers are also conducting researches for COVID-19 vaccine for children.Once data is available, the national regulatory authorities will evaluate andconsider for emergency use authorization. WHO will also do so an update its recommendation and Emergency UseListing./.
