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Fight against Corona What speaks for and against child vaccinations

Status: 06/22/2021 8:57 a.m.

The debate about whether children should be vaccinated against Corona is in full swing. Companies are pressing ahead with their studies for the approval of a vaccine for young children as well. What is the current state of research?

From Axel John, SWR

Just a few steps from the magnificent Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin is the rather inconspicuous Hausvogteiplatz. But what is sensational is what happens there in a sober office building. The Association of Research-Based Drug Manufacturers (VfA) has its headquarters here. The experts maintain contact with pharmaceutical companies all over the world – also when it comes to corona vaccine research, which is still under high pressure.

Particularly strict requirements for tests with minors

A team of specialists is constantly collecting the latest data from all over the world. Rolf Hömke is also there. The biochemist is an expert in research and drug safety. “When developing a new drug, it is standard that the preparation is initially only tested on adults. If these results are correspondingly good, studies with minors follow.” However, a prerequisite is a medical benefit in children and adolescents. Hömke gives an example: “A new antibiotic, for example, is also needed for children – but a preparation against prostate cancer is not.” Even higher requirements would apply to the tests in order to avoid stress in young people as far as possible. Both parents must have agreed together. The conditions also demanded that the children also say yes as soon as possible. “Money cannot be earned with such participation. The test subjects receive an expense allowance. The participants are mostly idealists or sick people who hope for an effective treatment.”

Intermediate results of the vaccine test series for children under twelve years of age BioNTech / Pfizer started a study in March 2021 with children aged six months and younger than twelve years. In the first phase, a small number of minors initially received different doses. In the current phase II, around 4500 young people are to be tested for the effectiveness of the vaccine in more than 90 facilities in the USA, Finland, Poland and Spain. Here researchers analyze the respective immune response. Results could be available from September.

Moderna reported the start of the phase II / III study in March. More than 6,700 children between six months and under twelve years of age in the United States and Canada are expected to participate. Here, too, it was initially about the best dosage. The effectiveness is then checked in the further course.

With the vaccine from AstraZeneca investigations began at Oxford University in February. Several hundred young people and children between the ages of six and under 18 should take part. The study has been temporarily stopped by the British authorities after reports of very rare side effects with thrombosis.

Janssen / Johnson & Johnson started testing his vaccine with adolescents aged twelve and over in April 2021. If the interim results are good, younger test persons should join the group. However, this study is also currently on hold.

Sinovac has been testing its CoronaVac vaccine in China since the beginning of May. In phase II, minors between the ages of three and 17 are to be tested here.

Source: VfA

STIKO sees no rush

Professor Dr. Fred Zepp follows vaccine development with great interest. On the one hand, Zepp is a member of the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO). The committee drew up the recommendations for the sequence of corona vaccinations. Zepp was also director of the Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at the Mainz University Hospital for many years. He believes it is imperative that vaccines be developed for minors as well. This is particularly important for high-risk patients such as children with chronic cardiopulmonary diseases, emphasizes Zepp. “The mRNA vaccine process is an impressive development with excellent prospects. But we do not yet have any broad experience with children,” explains Zepp. For him it is important that the development of an adult’s organism is differentiated. The acute side effects can usually be recognized in the first twelve to 16 weeks. “With infants or children, on the other hand, I have an organism that is subject to constant development. That is why I say: We are currently under no time pressure in this group and should wait for further study results.” In addition, there are hardly any children in Europe who are seriously ill with Covid-19. Less than 80 children in Germany were being treated in an intensive care unit because of Corona. There have also been very few deaths that are even below the rate of flu. Zepp is also referring to a few cases in adolescents in the USA who developed heart muscle inflammation after the second vaccination with BioNTech. The authorities are currently investigating whether there is a connection. “The coronavirus will continue to change. I expect that the older population could also be affected here.”

“The pathogen spreads unhindered, especially in children”

In Munich, Matthias Kromayer leans over the latest results from corona vaccine research in children. The microbiologist recommends vaccinating minors according to the relevant studies and approvals – regardless of the vaccine. Kromayer works on the board of MIG AG. The company is currently investing in 30 start-ups. In 2008, BioNTech received a good 13 million euros as an initial investment from MIG.

For Kromayer, a vaccination rate of 70 to 80 percent in the population is the goal. “Then there is a good chance of paralyzing the spread of the virus and mutated variants. The pathogen spreads unhindered, especially in children. They are closer together and cannot yet adhere to the hygiene rules,” explains Kromayer. According to the Federal Statistical Office, there are more than 8.5 million people under the age of twelve in Germany. For Kromayer, this group is so large that it should not be ignored in the fight against pandemics. At the same time, children have a much stronger immune system that can deal with Corona much better. In this way, fewer pathogens would presumably be transmitted: “The vaccine side effects in children are likely to be very limited, but the resulting protection for other population groups is high. That should be weighed up.”

Politicians do not want to commit themselves yet

In Berlin, too, the Federal Ministry of Health has long since registered the emerging debate. Whether and to what extent children should also be vaccinated in the fight against Corona is still silent. Upon request, the press office simply declares: “The results of studies and possible approval by the European authorities remain to be seen.”

According to BioNTech / Pfizer, reliable results from the currently ongoing study series can be expected from September onwards. By then, at the latest, the discussion about the best vaccination strategy will really start

The research results were published in the international academic journal “Science Advances” on June 11. The discovery is the result of a six-year experiment. In the experiment, the scientists stored freeze-dried mouse sperm on the International Space Station (ISS) and exposed them to radiation.

Healthy offspring from freeze-dried mouse sperm stored on the International Space Station

Researchers once thought that radiation in space would damage the DNA in cells, and may inherit mutations in future generations, making reproduction impossible. Cancer caused by radiation is another worrying issue.

Sayaka Wakayama, a member of the research team and a scholar at Yamanashi University in Japan, said that the lack of freezers on the International Space Station hindered long-term research on living cells. Moreover, even the current NASA space radiation cancer risk model is based on data from Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors, “not from real space experiments.”

To overcome these limitations, the researchers freeze-dried sperm samples from 12 mice, sealed them in small capsules, and transported them to the International Space Station by rocket without the need for a freezer.

“Unlike the Earth’s surface, there are many different types of radiation in space. For example, heavy ions, protons, and electromagnetic waves from solar flares,” Wakayama explained. “It is very difficult to irradiate and replicate all these types of radiation on the ground at the same time. , So I think DNA damage in biological samples can only be measured in space.”

Schematic diagram of freeze-dried sperm preparation and the types of experiments performed

Scientists regularly test a small number of samples, send some of them back to Earth after 9 months, and leave the other two batches on the International Space Station for 2 years and 9 months and 5 years and 10 months respectively. After testing, the researchers found that freeze-dried sperm stored on the International Space Station for a long time did not cause DNA damage.

Studies have pointed out that when rehydrated sperm cells are injected into fresh ovarian cells and transferred to female mice, “healthy space pups” will be born.

The researchers said that although X-rays and space radiation damage DNA differently, it is roughly predicted that freeze-dried sperm “can be stored on the International Space Station for more than 200 years without causing damage to DNA.”

A total of 168 pups were born from sperm stored in space for 6 years. Compared with control mice born from sperm preserved on Earth, these “space pups” have normal appearance and genetic activity. mode.

Scientists believe that more studies from similar airborne experiments can reveal the effects of radiation and the tolerance of life forms that stay in space for a long time.

The Mars rover is roaming on Mars

These discoveries are crucial for mankind to enter the space age. At present, Mars probes from the United States and China are roaming on Mars, trying to find signs of life. In the future, there are plans for manned missions to Mars.

Southern Reporter Shi Minglei

Corona pandemic Pfizer trials vaccine on young children

As of: June 9th, 2021 8:38 pm

BioNTech and Pfizer also want their vaccine approved for children under 12 years of age. The first studies on this have already started. The product will soon also be tested on babies. From Antje Passenheim, ARD Studio New York BioNTech and the pharmaceutical company Pfizer are advancing the development of their Covid-19 vaccine for use in younger children. As Pfizer announced in New York, the group has expanded its clinical study to children under twelve years of age.

Admission already in October?

In the first tests, a small number of minors were given different doses of the vaccine. According to Pfizer, around 4,500 children between the ages of six months and eleven will now take part in studies in more than 90 facilities in the United States, Finland, Poland and Spain. Tests on five to eleven year olds began this week. They receive either a placebo or two doses of ten micrograms each. This corresponds to a third of the dose that adolescents and adults receive. Pfizer expects to get US approval for five- to eleven-year-olds by October. In a few weeks, children aged six months and over will be brought in for a study. These should only receive three micrograms per vaccination. A short time later, the group wants to apply for approval for children up to five years of age.

Severe disease courses in children are rare

Pfizer sells the serum developed by BioNTech, a Mainz-based company. Since children are generally less likely to get seriously ill with Covid compared to adults, the group relies on a lower dose vaccination for younger children, which should also have fewer side effects. In the European Union, the USA and Canada, the vaccine is already approved for children from the age of twelve and is sometimes used. In the United States, nearly seven million teenagers have received at least one dose of vaccine, according to health officials.

During the pilot period, users do not have to pay service fees. Funding for implementation comes from funding from the European Commission and support from agencies implementing the pilot plan. It is known that the plan to connect two-wheeled electric vehicles with BRT fast buses in the planned pilot area has been reported to the City People’s Committee by the Hanoi Department of Transport and Communications. After being approved by the city, stakeholders will soon implement this model.

A taxi with an icon of Grab online ride-hailing application circulating in Thailand (Photo Bloomberg) On May 26, the Thai government approved a draft allowing the use of personal cars to register for taxi booking services through the application, a move that benefits technology drivers who already provide the service. without legal status for many years. While taxi-hailing apps are becoming more and more popular, Thai law still does not recognize car owners using their personal vehicles to pick up passengers, nor register the vehicle as a taxi. Thai Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said that the agency is currently studying regulations to legalize technology taxi services and is expected to publish at the end of June 2021 in the Royal Gazette. According to Mr. Saksayam, after the new regulation is issued, companies that own technology taxi-hailing applications will be allowed to apply for a license to operate the service. In addition, drivers who register to use the service need to meet conditions such as having a license to drive a public transport vehicle, passing a criminal background check by the Royal Thai Police and Only taxi-hailing apps approved by the Thai Ministry of Transport are allowed. Traisuree Taisaranakul, deputy spokeswoman for the government, said the move helped drivers legally use their private vehicles to provide services. According to Ms. Traisuree, vehicles used as technology taxis must not be more than 9 years old, in addition, these vehicles must be equipped with communication equipment approved by the Department of Transport and have a logo showing provision of taxi services through an electronic system. Regarding the service fee, for small and medium-sized vehicles, the service fee should not exceed 50 Baht (about 1.6 USD) for the first 2 km. After the first 2 km, the fare must not exceed 12 Baht/km. For large vehicles, the service fee is capped at 200 Baht for the first 2 km, then no more than 50 Baht for every kilometer thereafter. In another development, the Thai government is urging online food ordering platforms to reduce their gross profit (GP), or commission fees collected from food vendors, from around 30% to around 30%. 15%, to support food businesses that are heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Accordingly, online food ordering platforms such as Gojek or Line Man have now reduced their GP rates by 25%. Meanwhile, Grab does not charge a commission to its selling partners between May 12 and August 1, 2021. In addition, the above platforms also commit to holding promotional campaigns with free shipping fees for specified distances to support costs for consumers.

With the development of the domestic economy, more and more students are studying in Japan. In the mainstream camp of learning “economy” and “management”, art students have also quietly increased. And some people choose liberal arts and sciences to transfer to fine arts after coming to Japan, and take the examinations of fine arts universities or art subjects in Japan. So, how should we prepare for the advancement of art students and transfer art students?

Japanese language and requirements

Japanese language scores are required to apply to a Japanese university. Ordinary universities require liberal arts or science scores and Japanese scores, and some require English scores. Most universities of fine arts only need to submit Japanese grades.

The Japanese language scores of international students are divided into two categories, one is the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test), which is the “N1” and “N2” level test. Generally, a certificate of N2 or above is required for university applications. The second is EJU (Experiment for Foreign Students), which includes three subjects: Japanese, Liberal Arts, and Science. Art students only need Japanese scores, 400 points for Japanese listening and reading comprehension + 50 points for narration (small composition), for a total of 450 points. However, the scores of small essays are not considered by universities, and generally only counted as 400 points for listening and reading. Generally, applying to universities requires more than 250 points, and some universities only need more than 220 points.

The university only needs to submit one grade, and it is recommended to take the most insurance for both exams.

Professional requirements

The contents of the domestic professional examinations are three unchanging items (sketch avatars, watercolor still lifes, dynamic sketches of characters), while the professional examinations in Japan have different emphases and different examination contents according to different schools and subjects. No professional examination is required. Due to the differences in the content of professional examinations between China and Japan, students can choose to go to a private art school or preparatory proofreading for understanding and learning. Since professional art students have participated in intensive training in China and have a foundation in art, professional examinations in Japanese universities will be easier. If you cannot keep up with new art students, it is recommended to apply to universities that do not require professional examinations.

University selection

Japanese universities are divided into national public universities and private universities. The tuition fees of national and public universities are cheap but it is very difficult to qualify. The language and professional requirements for international students will be very high. The tuition fees of private universities are more expensive but the educational conditions are also very good. Tokyo University of the Arts (national) Tama Art University (private) Musashino Art University (private) Tokyo University of Art (private) Women’s Art University (private), also known as the “Tokyo Five Beauties”, and the Faculty of Art at Nihon University, Tokyo Polytechnic University, etc., are the Japanese universities that students consider most. There are many other good universities, and the major settings of each university are different. You still have to choose according to the major you want to study. Universities have open days, where you can visit the university and have the opportunity to communicate with professors.

University exam (interview + practical skills)

Japanese universities need interviews, and interview scores account for 70% of all scores, which can be said to be very, very important. General interviews are organized around five basic questions (one, why come to Japan; two, why choose this school; three, why choose this major; four, study plan; five, post-graduation planning) and the rest will involve a little bit Professional knowledge, such as your favorite designers and works, etc., should be prepared according to the major you choose. There are also some universities that need to prepare a portfolio, and you need to introduce your portfolio to the professor during the interview. The interview is really important, but it doesn’t mean that your spoken English is good or your Japanese scores are good. Some students with average Japanese scores are very, very brilliant as long as they prepare well.

Practical skills refer to the professional examinations organized within the university, mainly drawing sketches, different university time requirements are also different, mainly based on the actual university.

I hope that the students will have a good attitude to prepare for the exam in Japan, and work and rest together. I hope that everyone can be admitted to the university they like!

For more information about studying abroad, please pay attention to Shaanxi Zhongzhuo Study Abroad