Similar to returning to school, we guessed that lots of you have questions on Covid-19 vaccines and our children.  Below is a message from the GI team. 

A message from the GI Liver Team

There is a lot of discussion surrounding the anticipated introduction of a COVID-19 vaccine. The Liver team at CHI wish to reassure all our patients and their families that once the Department of Health and HSE issue vaccine recommendations that are safe and suitable for our paediatric patient cohorts, we will do our best to guide all our patients and families accordingly.

A large number of vaccine trials remain on going and trials in children and young adults have yet to be undertaken/ published. At this moment in time it is too early in the process for our team to offer advice on what will be available to our patients.  It is important to note that one vaccine will probably not suit all patients and age groups and that there will be different vaccines used for children and adults.  Therefore once the official published data and evidence is available we will be in a better position to issue guidance on which vaccine is safe and / or effective in each of our patient groups. We have excellent paediatric representation at the highest level in the National Immunisation advisory group and children will not be forgotten.

In the interim until a suitable vaccine is available it is important to remember worldwide data and evidence from our European Network of Paediatric colleagues suggests:

·       Children seem to be less susceptible to COVID-19 than adults.

·       Children who are affected by COVID-19 seem to have a milder course than adults.

·       Children with liver disease, who have been infected with COVID-19, have been no worse than children without liver disease. This also applies to those on immunosuppression.

The effect of Influenza in our patients and their families always causes us increased concern at this time of year.  We would still advise all our patients to receive the Flu Vaccine.

We hope to welcome the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines in the not too distant future when all the expert advice is available for our patients but until then if there are any further concerns to please contact us through the normal methods.