In a press statement issued today, Graça Freitas, the General Directorate of Health (DGS), recommends that all teenagers aged between 12 -15 years old should be vaccinated against Covid-19.
Stating that:
“If the vaccination programme has not begun before the beginning of the new school year, it will happen quickly. The issue, from our point of view is the impact the vaccination will have on this age group, and whether it happens a week before the beginning of the new term or a week after, will not impact negatively on the opening of schools. ”
The decision was made after analysing new data released on the vaccination of young people in the United States and the European Union, which has highlighted extremely rare and benign cases of myocarditis among those vaccinated against Covid-19 within this age group.
Myocarditis is more prevalent on boys, and usually only occurs, if it occurs at all, after the second vaccine. Symptoms include, fever, chest pain, headaches, myalgia and usually occur between 1 – 6 days after vaccination. Recovery rates are high, although the long term damage caused is yet unknown.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
