Topic : Understanding Covid 19 In Pediatric Population (Birth- 17 yr) PICO Research Question: Are Patients with No Immunization More Prone to Getting Covid-19 than Those Fully Immunized?

Understanding COVID-19 in Pediatric Population (Birth- 17 yr.) Student’s Name Institution Course Name and Number Lecturer’s Name Due Date PICOT Question: Are Patients with No Immunization More Prone to Getting COVID-19 than Those Fully Immunized? Background of the Topic COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease that affects everyone regardless of age. Since its outbreak, it has claimed the lives of millions worldwide including children and adults. Studies comparing the prevalence of COVID-19 in children and adults have reported pediatrics are less prone to the infection than adults because their nasal epithelium expresses lower levels of the Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) protein (Seth et al., 2021). ACE2 is a type I surface transmembrane protein expressed in kidneys, heart, arteries, and epithelia of the lung and small intestine (Rotulo & Palma, 2023). It plays a significant role in the COVID-19 pathogenesis (Seth et al., 2021). The reduced concentration of these proteins in the pediatric population makes children less vulnerable to COVID-19. However, this does not mean they are immune to the virus. According to Rotulo & Palma (2023), fewer cases of COVID-19 have been reported in children than in adults. In the United States, children comprise slightly over 22% of the population. As of January 2023, about 17.2% of all COVID-19 cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) involved children (Rotulo & Palma, 2023). However, evidence indicates that children experience mild symptoms including fever, cough, rhinorrhea, fatigue, sore throat, and nasal congestion. Some gastrointestinal manifestations such as nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. A good prognosis is witnessed in most pediatrics having an average recovery time of 1-2 weeks from the onset of the infection (Seth et al., 2021). Further studies indicate that pediatrics below five years suffering from moderate to mild form of COVID-19 have more viral RNA particles in their nasopharynx than children over five years and adults (Seth et al., 2021). Today, the pediatric population is a critical target for immunization due to children’s behavioral tendencies and close contact with peers in daycare and schools. Review of the Literature The COVID-19 pandemic led several countries globally to adopt drastic measures such as lockdowns to curb the spread of the infection. Despite these measures, countries worldwide experienced challenges containing the spread of COVID-19 completely. Instead, more deadly coronavirus variants have been discovered (Bilotta et al., 2022). These variants have wiped out populations across the world, prompting scientists and researchers to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines. Immunization is an important instrument for containing the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Raslan et al. (2023), approved vaccines such as Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax have played a significant role in controlling the infection. These vaccines are safe and effective at reducing the risk of severe infections, hospitalizations, and COVID-19 deaths. According to a CDC report, unvaccinated patients are five times more likely to acquire COVID-19 than vaccinated patients (Rudan, et al., 2021). Their hospitalization rate is also higher than those who are fully vaccinated. Although children at less prone to COVID-19 than adults, the CDC recommends that they should equally be given COVID-19 jabs since they are not safe from the infection (Raslan et al., 2023). For the best protection, the CDC recommends COVID-19 immunization for everyone six months and older (Bilotta et al., 2022). Although vaccines have proven to be effective, the mass vaccination of children against COVID-19 has sparked a heated debate with considerable policy divergence. When the original variant of the SARS-COV-2 virus emerged, vaccinating children was not an initial plan because children were found to be mildly affected by COVID-19 compared to adults. However, the emergence of the deadly variants increased the population threshold of immunization. Like any medication, COVID-19 presents with side effects including injection site irritation, headache, fever, and nausea (Raslan, et al., 2023). These side effects are not life-threatening to children, making the vaccines effective and safe for pediatric patients. The results have also demonstrated better immune responses in children than in adults. For that reason, many countries have begun vaccinating pediatric populations. Critique of Qualitative/ Quantitative Research Articles The topic, ‘‘Understanding COVID-19 in Pediatric Population’’ shapes nurses’ role in advocating and providing quality healthcare to COVID-19 patients and their families. As first responders in the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses must ensure that all patients acquire personalized, high-qu...