Page 16 - HOH OCT 22 2020_Neat

A12 HEALTH
Thursday 22 OcTOber 2020
Next up in hunt for COVID-19 vaccine: Testing shots in kids

By LAURAN NEERGAARD ers. In a letter to federal
AP Medical Writer health officials, the AAP
The global hunt for a COV- cited recent evidence that
ID-19 vaccine for kids is only those over age 10 may
just beginning — a lagging spread the virus just as eas-
start that has some U.S. ily as adults do.Add missing
pediatricians worried they school and other factors
may not know if any shots unique to children, and it's
work for young children unethical "to allow children
in time for the next school to take on great burdens
year. Older adults may during this pandemic but
be most vulnerable to the not have the opportunity
coronavirus, but ending the to benefit from a vaccine,"
pandemic will require vac- Dr. Sara Goza, president of
cinating children, too. Last the pediatrics academy,
week, Pfizer Inc. received wrote.
permission to test its vac- Globally, pediatric studies
cine in U.S. kids as young as are only hesitantly emerg-
12, one of only a handful of ing. In China, Sinovac and
attempts around the world SinoPharm have opened
to start exploring if any ex- studies that can test chil-
perimental shots being dren as young as 3.
pushed for adults also can A British study of a vaccine
protect children. by AstraZeneca allows for
"I just figured the more peo- testing of a low dose in
ple they have to do tests on, certain children but the
the quicker they can put In this photo provided by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, clinical research company says it won't be
coordinator Tammy Lewis-McCauley administers an injection to Katelyn Evans, a trial participant,
out a vaccine and people as part of the hospital’s clinical trial of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital recruiting youngsters until it
can be safe and healthy," Medical Center on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. has "sufficient" safety data
said 16-year-old Katelyn Ev- Associated Press in adults.
ans, who became the first In the U.S., Moderna Inc.,
teen to get an injection in dren. Vaccines can't be study in adolescents, he many U.S. children die from Johnson & Johnson and
the Pfizer study at Cincin- given to youngsters unless finds it "very concerning" flu in an average year. Ad- Novavax all hope to begin
nati Children's Hospital. they've been tested in their that children younger than ditionally, a small number some pediatric research
Multiple vaccine candi- age group -- a major hurdle 12 may not have a vaccine have developed a serious later in the year, in varying
dates are in final-stage in efforts to reopen schools by next fall. inflammatory condition age groups.
studies in tens of thousands and resume more normal Children represent about linked to the coronavirus. "If we immunize adoles-
of adults, and scientists are activities that are critical to 10% of COVID-19 cases Overall, Anderson says CO- cents -- and potentially
hopeful that the next few families' well-being. documented in the U.S. VID-19's impact on children move down into younger
months will bring evidence "The public doesn't under- And while children are far is greater than some other children -- we're going to
that at least some of them stand that," said Dr. Evan less likely than adults to get diseases that require rou- have the effect of keeping
are safe and effective Anderson of Emory Univer- seriously ill, about 120 have tine pediatric vaccinations. those children from get-
enough for widespread sity, who has been push- died in the U.S. alone, ac- Aside from their own health ting infected. But then also
use. But when the first shots ing for pediatric testing of cording to a tally by the risks is the still unanswered they don't bring the infec-
arrive, they're unlikely to COVID-19 vaccines. While American Academy of Pe- question about how eas- tion home to parents and
be recommended for chil- he's encouraged by Pfizer's diatrics. That's about how ily children can infect oth- grandparents," he said.q

What are the treatment options for COVID-19?

which one is best depends Here's what's advised for survivor that contains anti-
on how sick someone is. various patients: bodies that fight the virus?
For example, steroids such -- Not hospitalized or hos- Not enough is known to
as dexamethasone can pitalized but not needing recommend for or against
lower the risk of dying for extra oxygen: No specific it, the guidelines say.
severely ill patients. But drugs recommended, and However, enough is known
they may do the oppo- a warning against using to advise against hydroxy-
site for those who are only steroids. chloroquine and certain
mildly ill. -- Hospitalized and need- drugs that affect the im-
In the United States, no ing extra oxygen but not mune system -- multiple
treatments are specifically a breathing machine: The studies have found them
approved for COVID-19, antiviral drug remdesivir, ineffective against the
but a few have been au- given through an IV, and coronavirus.
thorized for emergency in some cases also a ste- Aside from drugs, doctors
use and several more are roid. have learned more about
A nurse collects a sample on a patient at a drive-thru being considered. -- Hospitalized and on a ways to treat hospital-
COVID-19 clinic in Montreal, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. A panel of experts con- breathing machine: Rem- ized patients, such as put-
Associated Press vened by the National In- desivir and a steroid. ting them on their bellies
stitutes of Health updates What about convales- and other measures that
By The Associated Press options for COVID-19? guidelines as new studies cent plasma, an infusion may prevent the need for
What are the treatment There are several, and come out. of blood from a COVID-19 breathing machines. q