Why Won't You Vaccinate Your Kids?

I just cannot understand why some parents would prefer their kids to suffer rather than get vaccinated and lower the risks!

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From CIDRAP- Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy 2/25/25:

Vaccinated kids at 57% to 73% lower risk of long COVID, CDC study suggests
Mary Van Beusekom, MS

"mRNA vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 was tied to a 57% and 73% lower risk of having at least one or two long-COVID symptoms, respectively, in US children ages 5 to 17 years, according to a case-control study led by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"The four-site study involved 622 children who were eligible for COVID-19 vaccination when they were infected with the Omicron variant and who completed a post-COVID condition (PCC) survey at least 60 days later. They were enrolled from the Pediatric Research Observing Trends and Exposures in COVID-19 Timelines (PROTECT) study, a longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 surveillance cohort convened in July 2021.

Persistent symptoms can be debilitating

"Participants were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection each week from December 2022 to May 2023, and they or their guardians completed surveys about ongoing symptoms at least 1 month post-infection.

"The study included 28 case-participants (those reporting PCC symptoms; 5%) and 594 controls (95%). The median age was about 10 years, roughly half were girls, and 57% of case-participants and 77% of controls had received at least two COVID-19 vaccine doses, 99% of them with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

"Although children typically experience mild symptoms from SARS-CoV-2 infection, PCC can develop following mild or severe COVID-19 illness, and PCC symptoms can be prolonged, debilitating, and contribute to school absenteeism," the researchers noted. 

"The findings were published yesterday in JAMA Network Open.

Overall protection likely even higher

"Several children reported no symptoms, and none were hospitalized. After adjusting for demographic factors, number of COVID-19 symptoms during infection, and baseline health, COVID-19 vaccination was linked to a lower risk of at least one and two PCC symptoms (adjusted odds ratios [aORs], 0.43 and 0.27, respectively).

"The aORs correspond to an estimated 57% and 73% reduced likelihood of 1 or more and 2 or more PCC symptoms, respectively, among vaccinated vs unvaccinated children," the study authors wrote. 

"The aORs of respiratory and nonrespiratory PCC symptoms were 0.28 and 0.49, respectively. Of the 28 participants reporting at least one symptom, 57% said their symptoms affected their ability to function (aOR, 0.25).

Findings boost case for keeping current with vaccine doses

"Because both case and control participants had SARS-CoV-2 infection, the overall protection against PCC from vaccination is likely even higher, as these estimates do not account for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection by vaccination," the study authors wrote.

"Yet pediatric COVID-19 vaccination rates are low, with only 12% of children ages 5 to 17 years current with the recommended doses as of December 2024. "Surveys have shown that one reason behind parental COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is the idea that COVID-19 in children is usually a mild illness and therefore vaccination is not necessary," the researchers wrote. "However, even mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection can result in postinfectious sequelae." 

"Our findings suggest that children should stay up to date with current COVID-19 vaccination recommendations as vaccination not only protects against severe COVID-19 illness but also protects against PCC," they concluded. "