key: cord-0940285-cfrt7d1w
authors: Glikman, Daniel; Stein, Michal; Shinwell, Eric S.
title: Vaccinating children and adolescents against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), updated data from Israel
date: 2021-11-11
journal: Acta Paediatr
DOI: 10.1111/apa.16157
sha: 27d80ebe2cf1657750895ea0bf75150482e3bd26
doc_id: 940285
cord_uid: cfrt7d1w

We read with interest the Letter by Verd et al. commenting on our Editorial regarding vaccination of children and adolescent against severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).1,2 Indeed, when deciding on vaccination policy against SARS-CoV-2 many considerations need to be examined, including the safety of vaccines, the effectiveness in preventing illness (mainly severe), the impact on transmission of the virus, and effect of vaccination on disease prevention at the community and country level.

We read with interest the Letter by Verd Myocarditis is associated with the BNT162b2 vaccine. In a recently published national study in Israel, myocarditis cases increased after the receipt of the BNT162b2 vaccine, particularly after the second dose among young male people. However, the incidence was low: 136 cases of probable or definite myocarditis among 5.1 million vaccinated people. 4 Of note, the clinical presentation was mild in 95% of cases. Importantly, in another national Israeli study evaluating the safety of the BNT162b2 vaccine with matched vaccinated to unvaccinated persons, SARS-CoV-2 infection itself was a very strong risk factor for myocarditis. In fact, the risk ratio of myocarditis was much higher in SARS-CoV-2-infected than in vaccinated patients (18.28 vs. 3.24). 5 Therefore, in our view, when considering the overall risks and benefits of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for children and adolescents, and specifically myocarditis, the pendulum is clearly in favour of vaccination. 

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Vaccinating children and adolescents against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), updated data from Israel