Children up to four years old were just as likely to die from the flu or a stroke as Covid at the height of the Omicron wave, data shows - and those aged 5 to 14 were FOUR TIMES more likely to die from cancer

By Luke Andrews Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com. Excerpts:

• "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published figures for fatality rate over last three months of 2021
• They showed children under four years old were more at risk from cancer and heart disease
• And for those between five and 15 years, they were four times more likely to die from cancer than Covid
• Top experts said the figures suggested there was 'no emergency' requiring parents to get children jabbed
• But others said because the jabs have a protective effect they should still be rolled out

"Children up to four years old were just as likely to die from flu or a stroke as COVID-19 during the final months of 2021 — the start of the Omicron wave, a DailyMail.com analysis of official statistics has revealed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published its estimates for the fatality rate for leading causes of death over October to December last year on Wednesday.

Data showed that despite the surge in infections at the time, fatalities caused by Covid remained minimal among American children less than 15 years old — with the disease not becoming the leading cause of death.

Among children aged one to four years cancer was the leading cause of death followed by heart disease, with Covid in third place alongside flu and stroke. Among five to 14 year olds, they were four times more likely to have died from cancer than Covid during the period.

Top experts — who asked not to be named — today said the figures suggested there was 'no emergency' to vaccinate children, especially considering more than three-quarters likely already have immunity from a previous infection with the pandemic virus."

"Covid was the third leading cause of death in the United States in the last three months of 2021 (107.5 deaths per 100,000 people). Heart disease remained the leading cause of death (179.6), followed by cancer (148.4).

"Breaking the data down into age groups showed that among one to four year olds cancer was the leading cause of death (1.7), followed by heart disease (0.7). The rate was 0.4 for Covid, flu and strokes."

"It was a similar picture among children aged five to 14 years, where the death rate from cancer at 1.9 was above that from Covid, at 0.4.

Even among people aged more than 85 years old — who are most at risk from Covid — the virus was the fourth leading cause of death at 1,199 fatalities per 100,000 people.

Heart disease was the top cause (4,275), followed by cancer (1,742) and Alzheimer's disease (1,274).

After viewing the data, a top expert told DailyMail.com it appeared there was 'no emergency' that would require children to get vaccinated against Covid."

"at least 75 percent of children have already had the virus, to say that the vast majority already have some form of protection."

"a number of experts have raised concerns over vaccinating children, saying they face a vanishingly small risk of becoming seriously ill or dying after catching the virus. Statistics show just 0.05 percent of America's more than a million deaths from the virus are among under-5s.There are also concerns over myocarditis, a form of heart inflammation that can be a side-effect of the vaccine. Most cases are mild"

"some experts fear the jabs may delay children getting other important jabs — such as the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine — because it can't be administered alongside others."