Chinese Covid Vaccine Safe, Effective In Children, Adolescents: Lancet Study

COVID-19 Vaccine: "Children and adolescents with COVID-19 usually have mild or asymptomatic infections compared with adults. However, a small number may still be at risk of severe illness," said Qiang Gao from Sinovac Life Sciences, China.

Two doses of the China-made COVID-19 vaccine, CoronaVac, are safe and produce a strong antibody response among children and adolescents aged 3-17 years, according to a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. The phase 1/2 trial on 550 young people found that over 96 per cent of children and adolescents who received two doses of the vaccine, manufactured by Sinovac, developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Most adverse reactions were mild or moderate, with pain at the injection site the most commonly reported symptom, the researchers said. "Children and adolescents with COVID-19 usually have mild or asymptomatic infections compared with adults. However, a small number may still be at risk of severe illness," said Qiang Gao from Sinovac Life Sciences, China.