Unvaccinated Children Less Likely to Die of COVID Than Vaccinated Adults, Data Suggests

Figures have suggested that unvaccinated children are less likely to die after contracting COVID-19 than vaccinated adults in all age groups.

According to the latest weekly COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report by Public Health England, there were three children under the age of 18 who died in England within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19, out of a total 167,832 cases over a three-week period.

None of those under the age of 18 were vaccinated, the data reveals.

The British government is currently only offering vaccination shots for all 16- to 17-year-olds, and at-risk 12- to 15-year-olds.

In the older age groups, the data shows that people aged between 18-29 and 30-39 are marginally more likely to die within 28 days of testing positive for COVD-19, even if double vaccinated.

The total number of 18- to 29-year-olds who died after testing positive from COVID-19 during the three-week period was 18, 13 of whom were unvaccinated. For 30 to 39-years-olds, the COVID-19 death figure is 45, including 31 unvaccinated.

In both age groups, the rates of COVID-19 deaths with people with both does per 100,000 people are 0.1, with the figure increasing slightly to 0.4 to those aged 40 to 49.

COVID-19 has long been known to overwhelmingly affect older people and those with pre-existing conditions more than children.

Public Health England states in the report that the rate of death within 28 days or within 60 days of a positive COVID-19 test increases with age, and is also "substantially greater" in unvaccinated individuals compared to those fully vaccinated.

The data reveals that nearly 1,700 people aged over 70 died within 28 days of a positive COVID-test, 284 of whom were not vaccinated.

The governing body said it is expected that a large proportion of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths would occur in those who have been vaccinated, given that more than 80 percent of the entire adult population has received both shots in the U.K.

Public Health England added that while the vaccines are hugely beneficial in preventing COVID-19 deaths, none are 100 percent effective.

"This is especially true because vaccination has been prioritized in individuals who are more susceptible or more at risk of severe disease," the report states.

"Individuals in risk groups may also be more at risk of hospitalization or death due to non-COVID-19 causes, and thus may be hospitalized or die with COVID-19 rather than because of COVID-19."

Public Health England added that here is also evidence from a number of studies to suggest vaccines are effective preventing transmission, one of the main arguments during the discussion in whether school children should get the shots to protect others.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the U.K's vaccine advisory body, recently recommended not to offer the vaccine to children aged 12 to 15, citing concerns that more children may have negative side effects to the vaccine than would benefit from it enough to justify a mass rollout.

"The JCVI's view is that overall, the health benefits from COVID-19 vaccination to healthy children aged 12 to 15 years are marginally greater than the potential harms," Professor Wei Shen Lim, Chair of COVID-19 Immunisation for the JCVI, said in a statement.

"Taking a precautionary approach, this margin of benefit is considered too small to support universal COVID-19 vaccination for this age group at this time."