High-risk kids experience mild side effects after COVID vaccination: Study

The side effects of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines in children at higher risk of coronavirus infection are mild and will clear up quickly, noted a small study. The United States authorised COVID vaccines for children aged 12-15 in May 2021. 

The study, conducted by doctors in Bristol observed children with neurological conditions and tracked 27 children for two weeks after receiving the dose.

The research found that high-risk children benefited most from the vaccine and the children, who had been shielding, had similar side effects post-vaccination as adults.

The study, published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, was conducted in response to concerns from parents over the unknown side-effects of the coronavirus vaccine in children with neurological conditions, who are believed to be more vulnerable to COVID.

For the study purpose, parents of the children being observed were asked to record any side effects they noticed in their child. All the children included in the study were vaccinated in March or April this year when only small numbers of extremely vulnerable children were being offered a jab.

These kids have various conditions affecting the brain or nervous system, including cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy in addition to epilepsy, heart defects and problems with their immune system.

Symptoms observed

The most common post-vaccination symptoms recorded in them were severe fatigue, a mild rash, headache, diarrhoea, neck pain and possible sore throat, which had all gone within 72 hours after the administration.

Some children also reported vomiting, armpit swelling, diarrhoea and blisters around the mouth.

Another child, experienced abnormal agitation after the dose. 

“Even among children with severe neurological conditions, the Pfizer vaccine does not make side-effects any more common,” said Tom Hilliard, a respiratory pediatrician

And although the study had tracked the children for a fortnight only, he was not aware of any other problems developing since.