The Public Health Authority’s decision to no longer recommend the covid vaccine for children aged 12–17 has sparked controversy and led some parents to seek vaccination for their children in other countries.
With the exception of children in the high-risk group due to other illnesses, the recommendation against vaccinating healthy children has led to a dilemma for some families, particularly those with children planning to study abroad as exchange students.
“Some teenagers who, for example, are going to go as exchange students have ended up a bit between the seats and that is probably one reason why this change is being made. But for children who are perfectly healthy, I see no reason to vaccinate against covid,” said David Edenvik, assistant infectious disease doctor in Region Jönköping County.
Edenvik also predicts low demand for covid vaccination among children in the county following the new directives. The decision now allows regions to vaccinate children from the age of six months, reflecting a significant shift in vaccination guidelines.
The debate over covid vaccination for children remains a contentious issue, with opinions divided on the necessity of vaccinating healthy children. As the public grapples with this decision, the experience of doctors like Edenvik will continue to shape the conversation around childhood vaccination and the wider public health response to the pandemic.