The Maltese Paediatric Association said today it supported the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5 - 11 years.

One reason for this is that serious complications from COVID-19 infection in children are uncommon but can still occur in healthy children.

Children respond well to the currently approved COVID-19 vaccine, which has been shown to be 90% protective. The vaccine has been shown to be safe when used in several million children in the USA, the association said. The risk of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) is extremely low. Myocarditis can still occur with COVID-19 infection.

The vaccine will protect children from COVID-19 infection during the current pandemic, the association added.