Viewpoint of the European Pediatric Societies over Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Vaccination in Children Younger Than Age 12 Years Amid Return to School and the Surging Virus Variants

Since its first appearance in the Wuhan region of China in December 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a worldwide public health and socioeconomic crisis. According to the World Health Organization Coronavirus (COVID-19) dashboard, as of September 2021, there have been more than 217 million confirmed cases and 4.5 million deaths reported. Mass vaccination campaigns against SARS-CoV-2 are ongoing worldwide. Currently, 5.38 billion doses have been administered globally, 39.9% of the world population has received at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and approximately 40 million are administered each day. However, only 1.8% of people in low-income countries have received at least 1 dose, and there will likely be increasing high demand for the limited supplies of vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in many areas, raising important ethical issues and socioeconomic debates on how vaccine distribution should be prioritized. Children are returning to class after long pandemic closures. As a new school year begins, local governments in low- and high-income countries are struggling over teacher vaccinations and mask mandates amid the surge of virus variants.4 With the fast spread of the more contagious delta variant and SARS-CoV-2 vaccines not available for much of the global school-aged population, children's health risks have become a pressing public health issue. A global debate is underway on whether SARS-CoV-2 vaccination should be made available in children younger than age 12 years and be made mandatory for those attending schools. This commentary, authored by the working group on social pediatrics of the European Paediatric Association/Union of National European Paediatric Societies and Associations (EPA-UNEPSA), presents the viewpoint of EPA-UNEPSA and its partner society European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians (ECPCP), on SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in children younger than age 12 years. The aim is to raise awareness of pediatricians, lawmakers, public health officers, and school educators on the importance of extending vaccination after a careful risk assessment is made. We emphasize that proper and safe vaccination procedures should be initiated after satisfactory clinical trials are completed and following formal approval by public authorities.