CoronaVac now allowed for kids aged 3–5 in Brazil

Brazil’s national drug agency Anvisa this week allowed children aged three to five to receive CoronaVac, a vaccine against COVID-19. The shot is manufactured by São Paulo’s Butantan Institute.

During a board meeting in Brasília, the authority unanimously followed the recommendation of its technical staff and authorized the inoculation with two doses of the vaccine with a 28-day interval. The move covers children who are not immuno-compromised only.

No deadline has been set for the beginning of the vaccination for this age group in Brazil’s national immunization program. The decision will be made by the Ministry of Health.

Anvisa Director Meiruze Souza Freitas, rapporteur in the deliberations, argued that CoronaVac has been approved by the World Health Organization in 56 countries, had about a billion doses administered, and has played a significant role in slashing deaths and hospitalizations.

“Vaccinating children three to five years of age against COVID-19 can help prevent them from becoming seriously ill if they contract the new coronavirus,” he pointed out.

The country started to vaccinate kids aged five to 11 in January. The shots used for this age group are CoronaVac and a Pfizer’s pediatric shot.

Studies

A clinical study conducted in Chile reported 55 percent effectiveness for CoronaVac against hospitalization in children testing positive for COVID-19. In addition, kids in the clinical studies showed higher antibody counts and fewer reactions to the vaccine compared to adults.

In Brazil, further data revealed that serious reactions after immunization were classified as either rare or very rare. Scientists reached this conclusion after analyzing 103 million doses administered countrywide to people from other age groups.