COVID-19 Cases Soar Again, Israel Starts COVID-19 Vaccination For Children 5-11 Years Old

Illustration of COVID-19 vaccination for children. (Source: UNICEF/Zhang Yuwei)

JAKARTA - Israel began rolling out COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11 using Pfizer/BioNtech on Monday, hoping to beat the recent increase in coronavirus infections.

The fourth wave of infections that hit Israel in June began to subside in September. But over the past two weeks the reproduction rate of the virus, which has stayed below one for two months has started to rise and has now crossed that threshold, suggesting the virus could spread again exponentially.

Daily cases have also increased over the past few days, with half of currently confirmed infections among children aged 11 and under.

COVID-19 vaccinations for children began in Tel Aviv square, where a number of parents brought their children to get vaccinated, with the program to be implemented nationwide starting today.

"School children, they (mixed) with (other) children, and they do a lot of social activities. We are very excited (to) vaccinate them and (to return) to normal life," explained Katy Bai Shalom whose son and daughter vaccinated Monday, citing Reuters November 23.

To note, the number of young Israelis population reaches 9.4 million people, with about 1.2 million children in the age group 5-11 years. In November, the group recorded about a third of new cases of COVID-19 infection, according to health ministry data. Scientists and officials doubt the country can achieve "herd immunity" unless children are vaccinated.

The authorities also said that COVID-19 vaccination for children is aimed at protecting their health, not just to stop the transmission of the coronavirus.

Although it is said that cases of COVID-19 infection in children are rarely severe and show no symptoms at all, this poses a long-term risk.

Separately, the Israeli Ministry of Health estimates that one in 3.500 children infected with the coronavirus will develop Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in which parts of the body become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, and digestive organs. Most children with the condition require intensive care, with about 1-2 percent dying.

In addition, officials have also noted the risk of prolonged symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, muscle aches, loss of smell and taste, headaches, and coughs, commonly known as long COVID.

A survey by the health ministry of more than 13.000 children showed that about 11 percent had suffered persistent symptoms, with about 1.8 percent to 4.6, depending on their age, continuing to have symptoms six months after falling ill.

A poll by Israeli healthcare provider Maccabi found that about 41 percent of parents of children ages 5 to 11 believed they would vaccinate their children. About 21 percent are still undecided and 38 percent will not vaccinate their children.

To note, Israel has recorded 1.3 million total confirmed cases and more than 8.000 people died since the start of the pandemic.

About 57 percent of Israel's population is fully vaccinated according to the health ministry, meaning they have received their third injection or it has not been five months since they received the second shot.