how much is missing for those under 18

During these hours, the jurisdictions are advancing in the vaccination of the first doses of young population. In the province of Buenos Aires there are 69 municipalities with free vaccination for those over 18 (at least ten more were added on Monday and it was announced that they will be able to register minors with risk factors) and there are municipalities in the first suburban cordon which have been vaccinating young people for several weeks. Something similar is happening in the city, where the over 25 years and this week it is expected that registration for neighbors will be activated from +18. And unlike what happens in Europe or the United States, here adhesion remains high.

On the other hand, Moderna’s vaccine donation – 3.5 million arrived over the weekend – could help intensify vaccination towards those under 18. And the priority would be for those with previous illnesses.

As it turns out, Moderna is hoping that in the next few days the FDA (like ANMAT, the body that certifies foods and drugs in the United States) will clear its application in minors, which would have an impact on Argentinian children and adolescents, since the Minister of Health, Carla Vizzotti, has expressed the intention to vaccinate those who have between 12 and 18 years and, in principle, the prevalent diseases.

Pfizer – with the same technology as Moderna, messenger RNA – is already used in the United States in people over 12 years old, with and without morbidity. And also in Canada, Mexico and in neighboring countries, Brazil and Chile, among others. In Europe, it is also allowed and is applied by Germany, France, Italy and Finland, among others. In Japan and Indonesia it is applied; in Australia it was activated for +16.

Volunteer all over the world, vaccination goes through -in some countries- resistance among anti-vaccine groups and also among young people, less affected by the coronavirus in terms of death and serious illness. This weekend there were massive protests in France against the health passport and in the UK the end of restrictions was celebrated with parties at 12,000 clubs and a countdown similar to the New Year.

And in the city of Buenos Aires, which scenario is displayed? In dialogue with Bugle, the person in charge of immunization and tests -Gabriel Battistella, under-secretary of primary, ambulatory and community care- analyzed how very positive the progress of vaccination in the youngest. “When we opened registrations for the over 25s, in the early hours, 30,000 people had registered. By early afternoon, they were 70,000. The call was great, impeccable “, he condemned.

Until Monday noon, the number of young people registered climbed to 101,241.

According to project data from the city’s Department of Statistics and Censuses, there are 209,000 male and female neighbors between the ages of 25 and 29. “In addition to those who signed up in these first three days, there is an important strip that has been vaccinated in other stages. Population with co-morbidities, health personnel, security forces, traffic officers, teachers and non-teachers. In the past month and a half we have made a lot of progress with the vaccination of the young population, we are very satisfied with the membership ”.

Battistella understands that the Buenos Aires strategy, on the other hand, makes membership easier: “It’s a clear call, which allows us to focus. We think there is no general anxiety. And it helps us all to organize ourselves, also for young people who report when it’s their turn. We are currently completing programs with young adults Sinopharm and opening the diagrams with AstraZeneca“.

Regarding minors, pediatric infectologist Analía De Cristófano indicated that it is estimated that there are around 100,000 children and adolescents with prevalent diseases. “As a general strategy, I consider It is important that vaccination is advanced to the whole young population. But especially vis-à-vis this population with prevalent diseases: boys and girls with cancer, who have congenital immunosuppressions, obesity or serious respiratory disorders, among others. The death rate is minimal, but the vast majority of them have underlying diseases, ”lamented De Cristofano, head of pediatric infectious diseases at the Italian hospital and member of the infection control committee of this institution.

It is estimated that in the city there are between 20,000 and 30,000 sick minors. On the basis of Moderna’s donation -3.5 million doses-, it is expected that inoculation of this group will not lead to greater complexity and, on the other hand, the amount could also guarantee the application of the second dose. How it works with AstraZeneca and Sinopharm (and most of the vaccines that have been developed and used around the world), the first and second doses of the Moderna are made with the same component.

A look at prevalence children and adolescents

Consulted by Bugle, María Fernanda Rivas – graduate in psychology, psychoanalyst specializing in childhood and adolescence – explained that the arrival of the vaccine for this group is fundamental, because the pandemic has restricted their lives in a way different from the rest of society : “The whole family, in these cases, is restricted and must be extremely cautious. And while family support is essential in these cases, the lack of stimulation provided by extra-family social life (such as school attendance, peer interactions, and extra-curricular activities) can wreak havoc. family is generally overprotective towards these children and adolescents; which adds an organic risk factor, the feeling of “not being able”, handicap, resentment, anger and low self-esteem “, warns Rivas.

And the restrictions create more dependency. “Boys and girls regress to states of greater dependence on parents and, in the event of delayed maturation, a reversal of autonomy (speaking, standing and walking, toilet training, learning, ability to play alone, etc.). They can become more demanding and when the family is not able to meet these demands, a climate of tension and powerlessness sets in which can generate a vicious circle ”, explained Rivas, member of the Argentinian Psychoanalytic Association. .

Among the adolescents presenting risk factors, there are other difficulties: “They have a feeling stuck, afraid of not being able to move forward in their need to detach themselves from the family, because adolescents “take refuge” from their family abroad “.

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