Q: Why can’t children take the Covid-19 vaccine?

Answered by: Dr. Yap Song Hong, Consultant Paediatrician, Nilai Medical Centre

Immune systems in children can vary greatly depending on age. A 15-year-old is going to have a much different immune system than a 16-month-old. Because of this, additional data and research are needed when evaluating a vaccine for children.

With children, there is a much wider range in terms of stages and ages because they are still growing and developing. These are all considerations to factor in as children at varying ages will likely respond differently.

Research has shown and reported that drug companies are expanding their vaccine clinical trials to include babies and young children. This is a crucial step in efforts to slow the spread of Covid-19 and move closer towards normalcy.