The administration of the anti-Covid vaccine for children from 5 to 11 years will start next December 16, but the immunization of the smallest group, from 0 to 5 years, is already being looked at.

The hypothesis is that of departure in the first half of next year, as hypothesized by the president of Aifa and member of the Cts Giorgio Palù.

"Moderna and Pfizer - he told SkyTg24 - are already experimenting with children, but I think it will be a matter of a few months". First, the US FDA will give the green light. "The population from 0 to 11 years - explained Palù - is the one that has 300 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants per week, the highest incidence of the infection, and is also high from 0 to 3".

"Today - continued Palù - children are hospitalized to the extent that is just under 1%. It was not so previously with the variants up to Alfa". The Delta variant is much more contagious and more infectious. So even children, who previously did not get infected, did not transmit the infection, did not get sick and did not die, today they get infected, and it also happens between 0 and 3 years, Palù explained.

NEWS FROM THE USA - Also for children from the USA comes a news on the care of young patients affected by Covid. To announce the company Eli Lilly. This is the first antibody treatment authorized for infants up to 12 years of age. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has in fact expanded the emergency use authorization for bamlanivimab and etesevimab antibodies administered together for patients under 12 years of age.

"This expansion - explains Eli Lilly in a note - allows bamlanivimab and etesevimab to be administered together in pediatric patients at high risk for the treatment of Covid-19 and for post-exposure prophylaxis".

5-11 YEARS - On the possible risks of vaccines for the 5-11 age group Palù reassures: "Three thousand children tested is more than those tested for the pertussis vaccine". In the United States "4 million and 300 thousand children have been vaccinated". An audience greater than that of children who potentially should be vaccinated in Italy from 5 to 11 years, and the American scientific society of pediatrics "did not report any case of adverse reaction severe in these children. I also remember that the administration of the anti-Covid vaccine to children is one third of the dose of that administered to adolescents ".