ABSTRACT
Purpose: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is very common nowadays in children as well as in adults, probably due to decreased exposure to sunlight. COVID-19 pandemic resulted in school closure and decreased outdoor activity in children, which lead to lower chance for exposure to sunlight. It was reported that the higher level of visceral fat was associated with the lower vitamin D levels in children. The aim of this study is whether body mass index (BMI) affect serum vitamin D concentration during COVID-19 pandemic. Method(s): BMI and serum 25-hydroxy cholecalciferol (vitamin D) concentration were measured in 1429 children (6 to 11 years of age) between August in 2017 and July in 2018 for pre- COVID-19, 1204 children who lived in urban area of Korea between August in 2020 and July in 2021 for post-COVID-19. Student's t-test and correlation analysis were applied to analyze the relationships between BMI and serum vitamin D concentrations. Result(s): The BMI standard deviation score (SDS) was 0.15+/-1.15 kg/m2 and 0.51+/-1.59 kg/m2 in pre-COVID-19 and post- COVID-19, respectively (p<0.01). The serum vitamin D concentrations were 16.9+/-7.0 ng/mL and 21.2+/-7.7 ng/mL in pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19, respectively (p<0.01). The BMI SDS was 0.11+/-1.27 kg/m2 and 0.56+/-1.78 kg/m2 in pre-COVID-19 and post- COVID-19 in boys, respectively (p<0.01). The serum vitamin D concentrations were 18.4+/-6.7 ng/mL and 21.6+/-7.8 ng/mL in pre- COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 in boys, respectively (p<0.01). The BMI SDS was 0.16+/-1.11 kg/m2 and 0.46+/-1.40 kg/m2 in pre- COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 in girls, respectively (p<0.01). The serum vitamin D concentrations were 16.4+/-7.1 ng/mL and 20.9+/-7.6 ng/mL in pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 in girls, respectively (p<0.01). Conclusion(s): This retrospective data suggest that the prevalence of VDD in Korean children during COVID-19 pandemic seemed to decrease, despite of increased BMI. Considering that the target group was children living in urban areas, it is thought to suggest that sufficient vitamin D were taken during COVID-19 pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a global pandemic for over 2 years. During the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant-predominant period in South Korea, confirmed cases among children and adolescents surged. This review found that, although younger children may be less susceptible to COVID-19 than adolescents, more research is needed on the role of children and adolescents in the disease’s spread. Detailed epidemiological information about the transmissibility of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strain in children and adolescents is currently scarce, and more research is needed on the role of children and adolescents in disease’s spread. There may be a difference in the proportion of cases with severe disease requiring hospitalization depending on the dominant mutant strain;however, COVID-19 generally presents with a mild-to-moderate course in children aged 5–11 years old.
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Purpose: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we conducted a Delphi survey that included the experts from the field of COVID-19 immunization in children aged 5–11 years. The aim was to organize collective expert opinions on COVID-19 vaccination in young children in the Republic of Korea, and so thus assist the vaccination policy. Methods: The panels included pediatric infectious disease specialists, preventive medicine experts, infectious disease physicians, and COVID-19 vaccine experts consulting the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Delphi survey was conducted online using a questionnaire from February 14 to February 27, 2022. Results: The Delphi panels agreed that children were vulnerable to COVID-19, and the severity of illness was modest. Furthermore the panels reported that children with chronic illness were more susceptible to a worsening clinical course. There were generally positive opinions on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 5–11 years, and experts gathered a slightly positive opinion that the adverse events of pediatric COVID-19 were not numerous. The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination were evaluated at a level similar to the potential risks in children. Currently, the only approved mRNA platform vaccine in children seemed to be sustainable;however, the recombinant protein platform COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated as better options. Conclusions: Due to the surge of the Omicron variant and an increase in pediatric cases, the COVID-19 vaccination in young children may have to be considered. Panels had neutral opinions regarding the COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 5–11 years. Thus monitoring of the epidemiology and the data about the safety of COVID-19 vaccination should be continued.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in children aged 5–11 years, a rapid systematic review was conducted on published clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines and studies that analyzed real-world data on adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: A systematic search was conducted on medical literature in international (Ovid-MEDLINE) and pre-published literature databases (medRxiv), followed by handsearching up to January 4, 2022. We used terms including COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and vaccines, and the certainty of evidence was graded using the GRADE approach. Results: A total of 1,675 studies were identified, of which five were finally selected. Among the five studies, four consisted of data from clinical trials of each of the four types of COVID-19 vaccines (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, CoronaVac, and BBIBP-CorV). The remaining study consisted of real-world data on the safety of the BNT162b2 vaccine in children aged 5–11 years. This systematic review identified that COVID-19 vaccines in recipients aged 5–11 years produced a favorable immune response, and were vaccines were effective against COVID-19. The safety findings for the BNT162b2 vaccine in children and early adolescents aged 5–11 years were similar to those data noted in the clinical trial. Conclusions: There is limited data on COVID-19 vaccines in children aged 5–11 years. Consequently continuous and comprehensive monitoring is necessary for the evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines.
ABSTRACT
In Korea, children aged 5 to 11 have been vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from March 2022. Due to this age group not being at a high risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms, each major country has different, circumstance dependent, immunization policies for children. In this review, the COVID-19 vaccination policies for 5–11 years old children in major countries were reviewed and considerations were presented for Korea, where children 5–11 years old are starting to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
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To battle with economic challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, the US government implemented various measures to mitigate economic loss. From issuance of stimulus checks to reopening businesses, consumers had to constantly alter their behavior in response to government policies. Using anonymized card transactions and mobile device-based location tracking data, we analyze the factors that contribute to these behavior changes, focusing on stimulus check issuance and state-wide reopening. Our finding suggests that stimulus payment has a significant immediate effect of boosting spending, but it typically does not reverse a downward trend. State-wide reopening had a small effect on spending. Foot traffic increased gradually after stimulus check issuance, but only increased slightly after reopening, which also coincided or preceded several policy changes and confounding events (e.g., protests) in the US. We also find differences in the reaction to these policies in different regions in the US. Our results may be used to inform future economic recovery policies and their potential consumer response. © 2021 The Authors
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School closures during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have been outlined in studies from different disciplines, including economics, sociology, mathematical modeling, epidemiology, and public health. In this review, we discuss the implications of school closures in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Modeling studies of the effects of school closures, largely derived from the pandemic influenza model, on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 produced conflicting results. Earlier studies assessed the risk of school reopening by modeling transmission across schools and communities;however, it remains unclear whether the risk is due to increased transmission in adults or children. The empirical findings of the impact of school closures on COVID-19 outbreaks suggest no clear effect, likely because of heterogeneity in community infection pressure, differences in school closure strategies, or the use of multiple interventions. The benefits of school closings are unclear and not readily quantifiable;however, they must be weighed against the potential high social costs, which can also negatively affect the health of this generation.
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Purpose: To describe pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases after the reopening of schools in the Republic of Korea and their transmission routes. Methods: All case report forms and epidemiologic investigation forms for children aged 3–18 years reported as COVID-19 cases to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System from May 1 to July 12, 2020, were reviewed. Results: After the schools were reopened in May 2020, a total of 127 pediatric COVID-19 cases were confirmed until July 12. Of these, 59 children (46%) were exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 through family and relatives, followed by 18 children (14%) through cram schools or private lessons, 8 children (6%) through multi-use facilities, and 3 children (2%) through school. Conclusions: The present data do not suggest an increased risk of COVID-19 transmission in the context of stringent school-based infection prevention measures introduced across the country. © 2020 The Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.
ABSTRACT
Rationale: Conducting clinical trials during the pandemic is fraught with challenges like missed visits/ procedures, visits out of window, and subject discontinuation. We seek to show that predictive growth models are adequate descriptors of infant weight (wt), length (ln), and head circumference (hc) under various patterns of missing and visits outside protocol windows. Methods: Data from two ongoing and two historical studies were bootstrapped and used for simulation. Goodness of fit was evaluated by comparing how close the observed values were with those estimated by the Gompertz model using t-tests. The Gompertz is a nonlinear growth function. The model may be fitted using ≥ 3 points – the start, end, and at least a middle point. We assumed 1,2, or 3 missing middle points under different patterns of missing. To quantify clinical relevance, differences in means between predicted vs. observed for 1000 bootstrapped studies were compared to the maximum allowable differences (MAD) between repeat measurements for acceptable precision: 100 g for wt, 0.7 cm for ln, and 0.5 cm for hc, and to the 1-month WHO weight velocity standards. Results: There were no significant differences between observed and fitted data for the simulated or bootstrapped distributions (all p>0.1006). On average, predicted values differed from observed by no more than the MAD or are less than or close to the WHO 1-month weight increments that infants growing at the 1st percentile should achieve. On a study basis, in ≥ 80% of the 1000 studies, the 95% confidence interval for the mean difference (predicted – observed) were bound by ½ SD on either side. Collectively, these show that differences were not clinically relevant. Conclusion: The Gompertz model has good predictive properties for estimating infant growth at the regulatory required timepoints even in the presence of missing values or collection outside visit windows and provide an analysis strategy to mitigate the impact of Covid-19. References: N/A. Disclosure of Interest: Y. Choe Other: YC is an employee of Abbott Nutrition, G. Baggs Other: GB is an employee of Abbott Nutrition, C. Steele Other: CS is an employee of Abbott Nutrition, T. Williams Other: TW is an employee of Abbott Nutrition, A. Mackey Other: AM is an employee of Abbott Nutrition.