1132 Nepal Journal of Epidemiology COVID-19 vaccines and immunization in the paediatric population Indrajit Banerjee 1 , Jared Robinson 2 , Brijesh Sathian 3 Copyright © 2022 CEA& INEA. Published online by NepJOL-INASP. www.nepjol.info/index.php/NJE Background The worldwide SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has forever altered the manner in which the world and various health agencies will deal with such epidemics and pandemics in future. The synthesis of the COVID-19 vaccinations and the various immunization drives which are underway, mainly garnish and confer protection to the adult populous; namely those aged above 18 years in age [1]. The development and further acceptance of vaccinations in the younger paediatric age group is comparatively sedate [2]. UNICEF data released thus far states that 0.4% of the deaths experienced due to COVID-19 (12300) have been recorded in those aged 20 years and below, with 58% of the deaths occurring in those aged 10-19 years and 42% in those aged 0-9 years old respectively [3]. The frustrating and crippling element still causing global COVID- related difficulties is that of the catastrophic mutations and or discoveries which pose a risk to the ongoing global vaccine stratagem. The discovery of these hybrid mutations and how the international community may respond and circumnavigate such events will determine the course for the following round of immunizations [4,5]. The evidence supporting the use of immunization in the general populous stands true, however the use thereof in the paediatric population is not clear and thus the vital question which remains to be definitively answered and explored is that of vaccination in the younger paediatric age groups, namely those aged between 5 and 12 years. The deaths registered in this young populous are high and it is the duty of physicians to protect those whom are weakest through the use of the most scientifically accepted and proven methods [6,7]. The Centre for disease control (CDC) recommends 2 doses of Pfizer vaccine separated by 21 days in those aged 5 to 11 years, with an additional third booster in immunocompromised children [8]. Current vaccines on the market The WHO (World Health Organization) has published a list of all the recognized as well as vaccines undergoing the WHO EUL/PQ (emergency use/pre-qualification) evaluation process. What is vitally important to understand is that all vaccines are not the same and do not confer the same level of immunity and protection. The majority of the vaccines are developed for those 18 years of age and above. The various vaccines within the WHO EUL/PQ list are in different levels of testing and are under different phases of study. Among the list of 13 vaccines Correspondence: Dr. Indrajit Banerjee, Associate Professor Department of Pharmacology, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Medical College, Mauritius Email: indrajit18@gmail.com Received 12 Feb 2022/Revised 17 Mar 2022/Accepted 18 Mar 2022 Citation: Banerjee I, Robinson J, Sathian B. COVID-19 vaccines and immunization in the paediatric population. Nepal J Epidemiol. 2022;12(1):1132-1134. DOI: 10.3126/nje.v12i1.43158 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Editorial Open Access eISSN 2091-0800