Kathleen Logan
From:
Emma Best <[email address]>
Sent:
Tuesday, 6 July 2021 11:26 AM
To:
Kathleen Logan; Peter McIntyre
Subject:
RE: are children more vulnerable to Covid vaccine side-effects?
Thanks for the email - I am not sure of the exact question but if the person is asking about side
effects and the mRNA vaccine (COVID vaccine being used in NZ. I am unsure what the Q exactly is -
side effects are more common in younger people and children however children are not ‘more
vulnerable’ to side effects - ie these effects are expected and self resolving
The common side effects of the mRNA COVID vaccine used in NZ are arm pain, fever, fatigue, and
body aches/chil s.
These common side effects last 1-2 days after the vaccine. These are more common in younger
people 55 yrs)
This vaccine is now licensed for use in the US and other countries for use in children aged 12-15 yrs -
the safety and effectiveness information is from a large trial on this age group (details below). It is
not an experiemental vaccine and this vaccine had been used in mil ions of people before and along
with being used in a trial involving children and now being more widely used in age groups aged 12
years and above overseas.
Vaccinations in children are not experimental and have been done with al of our vaccines which
continue to be commonly used in our schedule every day (influenza, meningitis and whooping cough
vaccines).
In NZ Medsafe has preliminarily also approved this COVID vaccine for this age group 12-15 yrs based
on evaluatig the safety and efficacy information.
Detail
The large randomized trial which led vaccine for 12-15 yrs being approved for broader use in the
United states (early May 2021) had approx. 2,200 children/young people aged 12–15 years receiving
either vaccine or saline (salt water). They were fol owed up at least 2 months after vaccine (although
that would be longer now).
The short term minor side effects after the vaccine were common (arm pain, redness on arm) seen in
90%.
The generalised or systemic side effects (fever, fatigue, headache, chil s) were also common but at
about the same rates as for people aged 18-55 yrs. The general effects were more common after the
second dose than first dose
Side effects occur within 1–4 days after vaccine and resolving within median of 1–2 days.
In children the severe local/systemic side effects (defined as interfering with daily activity) were in
about 10% reported - the most common symptoms were fatigue (3.5%), fever (3.0%), headache
(2.7%), chil s (2.1%), and injection-site pain (1.5%). only one person had a symptoms that meant they
needed to see a Dr (fever >40)
There were no serious adverse events considered to be related to vaccination. No specific safety
concerns were seen
Thanks
Emma Best
1
Emma Best
Senior Lecturer, Department of Paediatrics: child and Youth Health
Medical Advisor to Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC)
The University of Auckland
Paediatric Infectious Diseases consultant, Starship
Auckland District Health Board
From: Kathleen Logan
Sent: Monday, 5 July 2021 9:54 am
To: Peter McIntyre
Cc: Emma Best
Subject: are children more vulnerable to Covid vaccine side-effects?
Morena Peter (if I may)
I have a question: Are children more vulnerable to the side effects of the Covid19 vaccine? If there
is no evidence of that, I can say so in my response to a writer:
We have received a letter asking that the Children’s Commissioner oppose children’s participation in
Covid19 vaccines due to them stil being ‘experimental’ and keeping children (who can’t consent to
research participation) out of it. I disagree to the latter, and our position on vaccines is to fol ow the
official advice of the Director General of Health (and the government, which is to quash any anti-
vaccine rhetoric).
Sorry to keep bothering you, but we appreciate your expertise. I would like to reply to her by the
12th July, if you can get back to me before then. Thank you very much.
Ngā mihi nui
Dr Kathleen Logan
Senior Advisor, Strategy Rights & Advice
Te Tari o te Kaikomihana mō ngā Tamariki
Office of the Children’s Commissioner www.occ.org.nz
P: XXXXXXXXX | M: xxx xxx xxxx
------------------------------- The Office of the Children's Commissioner advocates for the best interests of
al children and young people in New Zealand and looks to ensure al of their rights are respected and
upheld. This email is confidential. If it is not intended for you please do not read, distribute or copy it
or any attachments. Please notify the sender by return email and delete the original message and
any attachments. Any views expressed in this email may be those of the individual sender and may
not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of the Children's Commissioner. -------------------------------
2
