Your questions, answered "If vaccine seems not to protect much against omicron, can you point out the reasons to vaccinate kids now with the existing vaccine?" — Anonymous in Pennsylvania There's no doubt that omicron can sneak past the first line of immune defense provided by the vaccines more easily than other variants. But vaccinating kids is still the best way to protect them from covid-19. Youngsters who've gotten the shots are far less likely to get seriously ill or wind up in the hospital than unvaccinated kids. If they do get sick, their symptoms will probably be mild and they'll bounce back quicker. They'll also be less likely to transmit the virus in their households or to their classmates. Consider that before omicron, when delta was the dominant variant, the pediatric vaccine by Pfizer-BioNTech was more than 90 percent effective in kids ages 5 to 11. The number was even higher in adolescents. A two-dose regimen of the vaccine isn't as good at blocking infection from omicron, but it's still a strong shield against severe illness. "Although the vaccine isn't a perfect match for the omicron variant, it has enough similarity that your body is still primed to fight omicron better if you're vaccinated," said Claire Boogaard, medical director of the Covid-19 Vaccine Program at Children's National Hospital. "Your body is smart," she told me this week. "It might not be able identify all the pieces of the omicron variant, but it will certainly recognize it as something that it should fight off, and it revs up the engine faster than if you'd had no preparation." In adults, booster shots appear to restore immune protection pretty close to what we saw before the new variant emerged. Health officials are gradually expanding eligibility for kids. The CDC is expected to authorize boosters for adolescents 12 to 15 today. Covid-19 generally isn't as hard on youngsters as it is on adults, but not always. According to Boogaard, about 1 to 2 percent of children are hospitalized with acute coronavirus infections. For those admitted, about a third need lifesaving treatment, most of the time for upper respiratory symptoms. Between 10 and 30 percent of children who fall ill end up having post-covid or long covid, meaning some symptoms linger for more than four weeks, Boogaard said. There's also risk of a rare condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome, which can damage vital organs. "As a parent, I'd like to know I did everything to protect my child," said Boogaard, who has two young children. "I hope that other people consider that as well in case you're one of the unlucky 1 to 2 percent where this affects them very heavily ― that you know you did everything you could to protect your kids." There are also practical reasons to vaccinate kids. In many school districts, quarantine and isolation times are shorter for children exposed to the virus if they are vaccinated. Even sporting events, after school activities and birthday parties are starting to require youngsters to be vaccinated. Getting the shots can help limit any disruptions in their routines. "This pandemic has been tragic for kids in more ways than just medically. Kids need to be in school for emotional, academic and mental health. They need to get out and play," Boogaard said. "It can help them reengage and feel safer." It bears repeating, too, that the pediatric vaccine is safe. If you have specific concerns, consult your pediatrician or primary doctor. "We all want to talk about this," Boogaard said. | 
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