Small children with Covid-19 exhale fewer viral particles compared to adults, making them less contagious on a moment-to-moment basis. But Covid-19 is, if you hadn’t noticed, a very contagious pathogen. With adequate time and proximity, anyone can potentially catch the virus from anyone else who is shedding virus, kids included.
So interesting. I have wondered about the imprinting. I have had five shots and two bouts of COVID. The shots were the first three recommended and then two of the Omicron. I had lung cancer and was encouraged to get extra boosts. I am hoping this does not make me more susceptible to more disease or more severe disease. Any studies on that?
"Although imprinting is of concern when an antigenically divergent virus emerges, it does not negate the public health value of booster vaccinations. Imprinting affected protection against infection in the long term, but the booster was protective against infection in the short term, and overall infection incidence for the whole follow-up period was lower in the group with three doses than in the group with two doses. There was no evidence that imprinting affected protection against severe COVID-19, which remained high after a year of follow-up."
There is such a low uptake of the current COVID vaccine in children: my grandchildren faced many barriers to getting the latest COVID vaccine despite motivated parents, good health insurance-- they finally got it at some pharmacy associated health system in metro Boston. It shouldn’t be this difficult. So I wonder if the study can and will be replicated. But thanks for summarizing it as we head into respiratory season with Covid still not seasonal.
At this point, among kids, is Covid more or less as contagious than the flu? Is the health impact on these kids worse or better than the flu?
So interesting. I have wondered about the imprinting. I have had five shots and two bouts of COVID. The shots were the first three recommended and then two of the Omicron. I had lung cancer and was encouraged to get extra boosts. I am hoping this does not make me more susceptible to more disease or more severe disease. Any studies on that?
Thanks so much for this article!
This is helpful information from the Lancet study: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00058-0/fulltext
"Although imprinting is of concern when an antigenically divergent virus emerges, it does not negate the public health value of booster vaccinations. Imprinting affected protection against infection in the long term, but the booster was protective against infection in the short term, and overall infection incidence for the whole follow-up period was lower in the group with three doses than in the group with two doses. There was no evidence that imprinting affected protection against severe COVID-19, which remained high after a year of follow-up."
This data concerns me. By only discussing contagiousness, anti vaxxers seem to be supported.
There is such a low uptake of the current COVID vaccine in children: my grandchildren faced many barriers to getting the latest COVID vaccine despite motivated parents, good health insurance-- they finally got it at some pharmacy associated health system in metro Boston. It shouldn’t be this difficult. So I wonder if the study can and will be replicated. But thanks for summarizing it as we head into respiratory season with Covid still not seasonal.