The upcoming third wave of the virus which is predicted to hit the country by the beginning of August – September is also anticipated to possess a dreadful threat on the little ones. To save them from the danger, vaccination trials have already been commenced. The fear of the third wave wrecking havoc in the country is already causing agony and mental discomfort on crores of minds. State governments, including those in Delhi and Maharashtra, have been raising alarm over pediatric capacities in hospitals and vaccines. Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin has already recruited volunteers for trials in the 12-18 years age group, and will soon begin signing up kids in the 6-12 years bracket.
These fears have also emerged as a result of the new delta variant, which countries like the UK and Singapore believe is also affecting children.
AIIMS Director Dr. Randeep Guleria on Monday pointed out that though it has been said children will be infected the most during the third Covid-19 wave, the pediatrics association has stated that this is not based on facts. It might not impact children and so people should not fear, he added.
The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) has said that though children remain susceptible to infection, it was “highly unlikely that the third wave will predominantly or exclusively affect children”. It also said that there was no evidence to suggest that most children with Covid-19 infection will have severe disease in the third wave.
Stating that almost 90 per cent of the infections in children so far have been mild or asymptomatic, IAP in an advisory said, “The most important reason is the lesser expression of specific receptors to which this virus binds to enter the host, and also their immune system. A very small percentage of infected children may develop moderate-severe disease. If there is a massive increase in the overall numbers of infected individuals, a large number of children with moderate-severe disease may be seen… Children are as susceptible as adults and older individuals to develop infection, but not severe disease. It is highly unlikely that the third wave will predominantly or exclusively affect children.”
In a meeting with district magistrates and field officials of 10 states on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said there is a need for the collection of data on the transmission of Covid among youth and children in each district.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had earlier written to the Union Ministry of Health and Welfare (MoHFW) as well as the Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR) asking them to start preparing keeping in mind the projections that the third wave can affect more children. The NCPCR letter addressed to Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on May 15, stated, “The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic is impacting several children and adolescents as India grapples with escalating virus cases in the second wave of this pandemic situation. Doctors have confirmed that even newborns and infants are testing Covid-19 positive, though their condition remains under control and rarely turns fatal. Further, a third wave of Covid-19 is projected to hit the country and according to experts, it may affect children in large numbers. There are guidelines on the management of the new born in a maternity ward and in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), but there is an urgent need to reorganize a Neonatal/children Emergency Transport Service (NETS) to prepare specifically for neonatal [cases] and children for third wave of Covid-19.”
Thus, it is still not clear, whether it might or might not affect the little ones, but keeping them safe is still the number one priority for the country. The country is taking advanced measures to avoid any mistakes as the third wave has almost set foot in the country with the ‘variant of concern’.
