DGS health orientation on childhood conditions which qualify for vaccination against Covid-19 have finally been ‘published’. But the development has done little to calm rising criticism, largely because it took such a long time coming.
Jornal de Notícias has perhaps done the best job of presenting it, exactly as it appears on the DGS site (pages 11-12)
- Active malignant neoplasm – either undergoing or awaiting start of systemic antineoplastic therapy (cytotoxics, immunomodulators, anti-hormones and therapies directed at molecular tumour targets) and/ or radiotherapy;
- Transplantation – transplanted and transplant candidates from hemoatopoietic progenitors (allogeneic and autologous) or solid organ;
- Immunosuppression – asplenia, congenital asplenia, depranocytosis, sickle cell syndromes (Hg S/ Hg β; Hg S/ Hg C), Thalassemia major, primary immunodeficiencies; individuals under chronic therapy with biological drugs, or prednisolone > 20mg/day, or equivalent;
- Neurological diseases – and/ or neuromuscular diseases, including cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophies);
- Developmental disorders – Trisomy 21 and severe and profound intellectual development disorders;
- Diabetes;
- Obesity – BMI > 120% of P97 or > 3Z-Score;
- Cardiovascular disease with ventricular dysfunction; cardiomyopathies (including congenital heart disease and genetic syndromes associated with heart disease); heart disease associated with severe cyanosis and pulmonary hypertension;
- Chronic kidney failure – in dialysis and stage III, IV and V kidney failure;
- Chronic lung disease – Chronic respiratory disease under OLD or ventilation therapy; severe asthma under systemic steroid therapy; bronchiectasis; cystic fibrosis and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.
For those who cannot instantly identify these pathologies, it is because they are thankfully rare in children – but those unfortunate enough to have them are far more susceptible than healthy peers to any kind of infection, be it from SARS-CoV-2 or any other virus/ bacteria/ fungi or parasite.
The Resident’s paper edition out tomorrow addresses the ‘chaos’ around the issue of Covid vaccinations for children in Portugal while in Porto, Professor Caldas Afonso, pediatric coordinator of the Hospital Lusíadas, has told tabloid Correio da Manhã that by next year healthy children as young as six months could be receiving them.
Dr Afonso has recently participated in a European study on this subject, the paper explains – and is a firm advocate of vaccinations in the 12-15 age group.
Colleagues with the profession however have called for “prudence”, and appear likely to continue to do so (click here).
