Thanks to a recent decision by Health Canada, children in British Columbia over the age of six months are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations. And a recent study by UBC researchers reveals some surprising attitudes about child vaccination from parents who remain unvaccinated.
Dr. Ran Goldman, professor of pediatrics at UBC, answers some questions for parents looking for more information before vaccinating their children.
What did your new study find?
In collaboration with 21 hospitals across four countries including Canada, we interviewed 4,500 parents and caregivers—19 per cent were unvaccinated, but among the unvaccinated, seven per cent still said they planned to vaccinate their kids. While that may seem like a small percentage, it proves that even some parents who do not get vaccinated understand the vaccine’s importance for children.
Some parents are worried about side-effects—should they be?
Any vaccine will have some side effects, not just COVID vaccines. But many studies have shown that most side effects, including soreness or redness where the shot was given, are mild. And that the risks associated with COVID far outweigh any risks associated with getting the vaccine.
Can vaccines wear out a child’s immune system?
No, they activate the immune system—and that’s exactly what vaccines are designed to do. The mRNA vaccines allow the body to develop antibodies to fight the virus and harness our immune system to work next time there’s a COVID infection, but does not drain the immune system.
Are children less likely to get seriously ill from COVID than other age groups?
In the beginning of the pandemic, the symptoms for children were very mild compare to symptoms for adults, so some parents thought it was better for their child to get COVID and recover, rather than get vaccinated. But we now know that some children can get very sick and 10 per cent of children who get COVID actually get long COVID, which is much worse and can cause symptoms for a long time after the illness is gone.
