D’autres tests sont en cours sur des catégories de la population qui étaient jusqu’à présent exclues des critères pour recevoir le vaccin. Notamment les enfants. N’ayant que peu ou pas de symptômes s’ils contractent le coronavirus, ils n’avaient pas été la priorité des chercheurs. Et vu le calendrier des vaccinations, ils ne sont pas près de recevoir une injection s’ils ne sont pas à très fort risque. Mais là aussi, les choses bougent.
L’Université d’Oxford (GB) a annoncé il y a peu un essai clinique du vaccin AstraZeneca sur 300 volontaires de 6 à 17 ans. Pfizer et Moderna ont également lancé des études de leur produit sur des enfants de 12 ans et plus. Johnson & Johnson ainsi que Novavax comptent également le faire prochainement. Les premiers résultats ne sont toutefois pas attendus avant la fin de l’été.
Vacciner les enfants est important. Non seulement dans l’optique d’une future immunité collective et pour freiner la propagation de la pandémie, mais également parce que, malgré tout, certains enfants sont atteints d’affections graves liées au coronavirus, comme le syndrome inflammatoire multisystémique. Si le vaccin est efficace chez les enfants et empêche la maladie de se développer, il y a de fortes chances pour qu’il diminue voire élimine le risque que ce syndrome apparaisse.
Pregnant women are among the groups at risk for the coronavirus. Not so much because they could pass the virus to their babies, but mainly because they can have severe symptoms themselves. Which may require them to be ventilated or treated in intensive care, risking premature delivery of their child. However, the vaccine is not recommended to them, in Switzerland either. In some countries where they have the logistical possibility of receiving it, such as in Israel where the vaccination of the population is massive, it is up to pregnant women to choose whether they want to be vaccinated or not. If caution is in order, this is not because of the possible harmful side effects that the vaccine could have on this category of the population, but precisely because it is not known whether it has any or not. There have been no clinical tests performed on pregnant women, as laboratories have had to deal with the most urgent need to develop their products.
4000 volunteers
Now that vaccines are perfected, manufacturers can take their research further. Pfizer and BioNTech have just announced a clinical trial of their vaccine in pregnant women, according to ABC. For this, 4000 volunteers who are between weeks 24 and 34 of their pregnancy will be recruited. All must be at least 18 years old and in good health. These tests will be carried out in the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mozambique, South Africa, United Kingdom and Spain. Half of the patients will receive the vaccine, the other half a placebo.
Those vaccinated will receive two doses 21 days apart. All will be followed for at least 7 to 10 months in order to monitor their health but also, of course, that of their baby. The latter will also be tested until they are 6 months old to see if the mother’s antibodies have been passed to them. After childbirth, women who have received the placebo will be notified so that they can actually get the vaccine if they wish.
The aim of this study is obviously to see if, due to their different physiology given their condition, the current vaccine can have effects on them that it does not on other women. Ensuring its safety and effectiveness is essential to reassure pregnant women so that they can be vaccinated with peace of mind.
Test on children from 6 years old
Further tests are underway on categories of the population that were heretofore excluded from the criteria to receive the vaccine. Especially children. Having little or no symptoms if they contract the coronavirus, they had not been the researchers’ priority. And given the immunization schedule, they’re nowhere near getting an injection if they’re not at very high risk. But here too, things are moving.
The University of Oxford (UK) recently announced a clinical trial of the AstraZeneca vaccine in 300 volunteers aged 6 to 17. Pfizer and Moderna have also initiated studies of their product in children 12 years of age and older. Johnson & Johnson as well as Novavax also plan to do so soon. The first results are not expected before the end of the summer, however.
Protect them from inflammatory syndrome
Immunizing children is important. Not only for the sake of future herd immunity and to slow the spread of the pandemic, but also because, despite everything, some children have serious coronavirus-related conditions, such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome. If the vaccine works in children and prevents the disease from developing, there is a good chance that it will decrease or even eliminate the risk of this syndrome developing.
G.S / FINALSCAPE
