A clinical pharmacist, Dr Arinola Joda has disclosed that says babies and children who are yet to attain the age of 16 years of age are exempted from COVID-19 vaccination.
Joda who is an associate professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos explained that they are not expected to be administered with the vaccine dose because they were not involved in the clinical trials.
She said that as clinical trials did not involve children, the possible effect of the vaccine on them is currently unknown.
Speaking with our correspondent, the pharmacist also noted that it was wrong of anybody to claim that the COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials were focused only on privileged few.
“It is not a matter of privilege. Adults are much more susceptible to the virus. Children have been so far spared and this can be seen from various studies carried out.
“The proportion of children affected is small. It, therefore, makes sense that the focus should not be on children when carrying out clinical trials. It is expedient not to expose them to the vaccines at this time.
“However, I am aware that one of the vaccine-producing companies is currently running a trial that involves children. When the results are ready, they will be able to update the guidance,” she said.
According to her, if global vaccination is achieved, the world can expect some level of herd immunity which would help to protect susceptible people that have not been vaccinated.
Continuing, the clinical pharmacist disclosed that only two COVID-19 vaccines – Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are currently authorized for the prevention of the virus.
“ThePfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires two injections given 21 days apart and is targeted at people aged 16 and above. Moderna vaccine, on the other hand, is for people age 18 and older. It requires two injections given 28 days apart.
“As the access to the vaccines for much of the developing country is not assured to happen soon even as the developed world that can afford it are not yet getting sufficient quantities of the vaccines themselves, I don’t see the vaccine going round till about three to five years,” she said.
