A summary of essential Covid-19 vaccine information

Many of you will have likely seen the news regarding increased case numbers in Thailand of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19. This has led to several children being removed from their parents in order to receive treatment, resulting in parents across the nation experiencing anxiety over how best to keep their child safe from Covid-19 and what to do in the event that they do become infected with the virus. Indeed, many are understandably worried about how severe the symptoms could be due to the lack of Covid-19 vaccines that are suitable for children. 

How essential are Covid-19 vaccines for children?

Children – whether young or old – do not currently tend to experience severe symptoms when they contract Covid-19 and the fact that there have not yet been enough studies into the efficacy, results and potential side effects of vaccines means more time is needed to approve their use among children. Nevertheless, Covid-19 vaccinations for children are seen as a crucial issue which researchers are looking into because the virus is likely to be with us for a long time. Moreover, there is potential for future variants to be more serious for child sufferers as Covid-19 attacks the respiratory system, just like other viral infections that are particularly dangerous to children, such as RSV or influenza, which are especially prevalent during the rainy season. 

Vaccines used to protect children against respiratory diseases 

Although there are currently no Covid-19 vaccines approved for use among children, there are several other recommended vaccines that will help boost childhood immunity and keep them physically strong enough to fight off disease, as follows: 

• The Hib vaccine 
• The Pneumococcal vaccine 
• The influenza vaccine 

There are several other vaccines that the Pediatric Disease Association recommends children receive at specific ages. These vaccines can help children stay free from disease and reduce the severity of symptoms should they contract an infection, meaning they may not require a hospital stay to recover. Crucially, all children should attend all doctor and vaccination appointments, especially those under the age of 2 years. 

How do children contract Covid-19? 

The way in which children contract the SARS-CoV-2 virus is no different to adults, namely inhabiting the same space as an infected patient or patients, coming into contact with an infected patient without wearing a face mask, not maintaining personal hygiene, and not socially distancing. It is possible to contract an infection from an infected person regardless of whether they are symptomatic if the appropriate precautions are not taken. This also extends to the parents of child Covid-19 patients. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) offer the following guidance on how families can prevent small children from spreading Covid-19 to others: 

Always keep your hands clean  

• Teach your child how to wash their hands properly according to the popular 7-step routine. 
• Wash hands regularly and properly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds per time or use an alcohol gel with at least 70% alcohol content. 
• Practice safe hygiene, meaning shielding your mouth with an elbow when sneezing/coughing, or by using a tissue, which should then be disposed of appropriately before washing the hands once more. 
• Avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth. 
• Ensure children wash their hands with soap and water as soon as they return home, after they use the bathroom, and before they eat meals. This extends to parents, who should be careful to maintain hand hygiene when preparing meals. 

Practice social distancing 

• Avoid close contact with household members, including both children and adults. 
• Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from people from other households. 
• Should other children visit your home, ensure they all play outside and maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from one another. 
• Avoid activities that involve the shared use of equipment or toys, such as footballs, basketballs, etc. 

Clean and disinfect your home 

• Use soapy water, an alcohol cleaning gel of at least 70% concentration, or disinfectants, such as sodium hypochlorite, mixed with water at the recommended ratios to wipe down the following areas of the home: 
  • Any surfaces that are subject to daily shared use or are frequently touched, such as tablecloths, doorknobs, handles, chairs, switches, remote controls, electronic devices (buttons), windows, tables, bathrooms, and basins. 
  • Surfaces that are prone to becoming dirty, such as baby changing tables and dining tables. 
  • Surfaces that children touch regularly, such as bedrails, tables, or toys – especially those that children like to put in their mouths. These should be wiped down with soapy water, but parents must also be careful not to leave a soapy residue behind when doing so. 
• In cases where parents are required to care for a child suffering with Covid-19, they should wash their hands after touching anything that child has come into contact with, including nappies and bed linen, in order to ensure they remain free from infection, while it is also advised that parents maintain social distancing and always wear a face mask when interacting with others. 

Wearing a face mask 

• It is recommended that a face mask be worn any time you leave the home or enter a public space, while it is also advisable to avoid close contact with others. 
• Children aged 2 and above are advised to wear a face mask when encountering people outside of the family unit. 
• It is not recommended that a face mask be placed on infants under 2, those with respiratory conditions, or those who cannot remove the mask independently as the respiratory systems of these groups may not yet be equipped to deal with the demands a face mask places on them in terms of oxygen usage, which could pose a significant danger to their health. Instead, these groups should be kept at least 2 meters away from strangers at all times or have their prams covered with a cloth in the cases of young infants. 

Finally, parents and other adults in the home should adhere to Covid-19 preventive measures to set a good example for any children in the household. 

For those who have received 2 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and wish to travel abroad, a ‘vaccine passport’ may be required prior to travelling. 

Documentation required when requesting a vaccine passport 

• A vaccine record (original and a copy) to prove that two doses of the vaccine have been administered, which is available from the hospital or location where the vaccine took place 
• A passport (original and a copy) with no less than 6 months remaining 
• A identity card (original and a copy) 
• Proof of travel plans, such as a flight ticket 
• 50 baht to pay the document fee 

If you wish to transfer power of attorney to someone else, the additional two documents are required: 

• Power of attorney document (one copy per person transferring power), and 
• The identity card of the person receiving power of attorney (original and a copy) 

Locations to submit vaccine passport requests  

• International Communicable Disease Center Office, Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Telephone 02-134-0134. 
• Clinic of Travel and Tourism, Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute, Nonthaburi Province. Make an advanced booking by calling 02-590-3430. 
• General Infectious Disease Department, Center for Disease Control. Telephone 02-590-3232. 
• Domestic Institute for Disease Control, Bangkhen Branch, Bangkok. Telephone 02-521-0943-5.