Covid surge in 0-19 age group, doctors for vaccinating kids at the earliest

NAGPUR: Experts are anticipating the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic to hit India around September this year, and children to be under greater threat during that period.
The administration has started preparation for setting up special Covid-19 ward for children in major hospitals to tackle the third wave. But experts have once again stressed the need to vaccinate children.

Data from Nagpur division shows that the 0-19 age group has already been in the grip of virus since last four months. It means despite strict lockdown-like restrictions, children are being infected and that too in a large numbers.
In January, near 5.50% of total Covid-19 cases were detected in the 0-19 age group. In April, it increased to over 11%, which means the number as well as percentage of kids with Covid-19 has increased in Nagpur division.
The increase is not limited to Nagpur city only. Even rural and tribal areas of the division are reporting similar surge. In January, Gadchiroli had 38 cases of Covid-19 in the 0-19 group. In April, cases increased to 939. From 30 cases in Gondia in January, the number swelled to 1,938 in April.
Nagpur district had 903 cases in January and the number saw multi-fold increase to 20,810 in April. Similar is the situation in all other parts of Vidarbha.
“As against 1,191 cases in January 2021, Nagpur division has reported 32,991 cases of Covid-19 in the 0-19 age group in April. In last four months, 45,520 cases were reported in this age group. More than 72% of them were reported in April alone,” said a senior official from divisional health office.
The gender-wise break-up shows girls and boys in the 0-19 age group were almost equally affected. “The gap is more in the elderly age group. But in children, it’s almost equal to their birth ratio. This indicates that girls and boys are equally at risk,” said paediatrician Dr Arun Gulhane.
So, is this already a beginning of the third wave? No, said doctors.
“Children getting infected is not an issue to worry. In the first as well as in the second wave, children generally remained asymptomatic carriers without facing any serious consequences. But, as per the predictions by national and international experts, a few children may require hospitalization in the third wave. Till May first week, this percentage is negligible. So, it’s not the so-called ‘third wave’,” said epidemiologist Dr Anand Thatte.
“We have three-four months in hand to prepare for the third wave. We must expedite the process to bring vaccine for children,” said infectious disease specialist Dr Nitin Shinde and added, “By September, vaccine will be available for all adults and a significant number will get protection. Children will be the worst hit in that case.”
Sources said that Nagpur has already been shortlisted as a trial site for human trials of Covaxin (Bharat Biotech’s Covid-19 vaccine) for children between 5 and 16 years. But green signal is awaited from the health ministry.