多个地区衞生部门预计会讨论新冠疫苗对5至11岁儿童的效用及安全性。学院院长黄仰山教授及郭健安助理教授早前进行研究，以了解小学生家长对新冠疫苗的接受程度，发现大部份家长对子女接种新冠疫苗感到犹豫。研究团队今年二月至四月向公营小学发信，收回349份有效网上问卷，研究主要结果：
• 仅21.2%家长有意为子女接穜新冠疫苗，低于家长愿意为自己接种疫苗的比例(36.1%)。
• 较乐意为子女接种疫苗的家长包括：
1. 教育程度为中学或以下
2. 有意到访海外地区
3. 曾接种季节性流感疫苗
4. 对疫苗及政府部门有信心
郭健安教授指出，参考过去季节性流感疫苗到校接种计划，若以到校形式提供新冠疫苗接种服务，相信有效提升学童疫苗接种率。他引述英国最新一份预印研究，结果显示成人同时接种流感疫苗及新冠疫苗并没有出现不良免疫反应，大部份人有轻微至中度副作用，包括接种位置疼痛﹑疲劳﹑头痛及肌肉酸痛等，认为未来研究应探讨为儿童同时接种流感及新冠疫苗的可行性，以提高儿童同时接种两种疫苗的比例。
他又认为，若外国推行「疫苗护照」，准许已接种疫苗人士入境，可提升有意出游的家长为子女接种疫苗的意欲。
研究刊于Clinical Microbiology and Infection，全文：
相关报道：
Some health authorities are expected to discuss data on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5-11. A research study by Professor Samuel Wong, School Director, and Professor Kwok Kin-on revealed that nearly 80% parents were not likely to accept COVID-19 vaccination for their child.
JC School of Public Health and Primary Care conducted an online survey between 26 February and 27 April 2021 among public primary schools, and received responses from 349 parents. Here are the main findings:
• Parents were less likely to accept COVID-19 vaccination for their child (21.2%) than for themselves (36.1%). • Groups more likely to accept vaccination for their child include parents: 1. with secondary education or less; 2. with higher in intentions to travel outside HK; 3. who received seasonal influenza vaccine; 4. who had confidence in vaccines and authorities.
"The higher actual influenza vaccination rate among children due to school-based vaccination outreach programmes suggests that schools are seemingly viable platforms to promote COVID-19 vaccines for children. Ongoing research needs to explore ways for the possibilities of co-administration of both COVID-19 and influenza vaccine on children in terms of safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy profile. A recent preprint study on 679 adults in the UK administering an influenza vaccine at the same time as a second dose of a covid-19 vaccine (Pfizer and AZ) produced no safety concerns and preserves the immune response to both vaccines." commented Professor Kwok. "Second, countries enforcing COVID-19 vaccine passport might motivate parents who have future family travel plans to vaccinate their children."
Full article on Clinical Microbiology and Infection: