After recent reports of high zero positivity among children post the second wave of Covid-19, public health
experts have stated that they may not be at ‘high risk’ at the onset of the third wave.
“We understand that there is an anxiety towards Covid cases in children, but a serosurvey recently conducted by All India Institute of Medical Sciences has concluded that the spread of the virus among children will not be explosive,” Health Committee Member, NITI Aayog, Dr. VK Paul said on Friday.
The said sero survey was conducted after the second wave of Covid-19 declined by AIIMS, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation. Its analysis shows that while children were as susceptible to the virus as adults during the second wave, infection among the latter was mild. The survey found high antibodies among the children.
“In rural areas, the seropositivity rate was found to be 56% in persons below 18 years of age and 63% in persons above 18. In urban areas, it is 78% in persons below 18 and 79% in above 18. This shows that the children were infected but it was very mild,” Dr Paul added. He further added that only isolated cases of infection may occur in children during the third wave of Covid.
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However, the health officials also expressed concern about possible variants of the virus that may become more harmful for children.
“If the virus changes its properties and becomes a variant that affects children, we will need to need to know where to go. Hence, we should be prepared. The government will not leave any stone unturned in terms of being ready for possible distress,” Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Lav Agarwal added.
The officials also highlighted the importance of vaccination, which helps reduce the risk of hospitalisation even if one tests positive post-inoculation. The officials quoted multiple studies done on vaccinated healthcare workers in the country to state that inoculation reduces the risk of hospitalisation by 75-80%. “It also reduces the risk of ICU admission to 6%, and oxygen requirement comes down to 8%,” Dr Paul added.
One particular study, as quoted by the officials, stated that only 1 person died out of 7000 vaccinated healthcare personnel, which may have been due to their comorbidity.
However, multiple states have been reporting an increased presence of Covid-19 among children. Health officials in Meghalaya informed on Friday that over 5,000 children below the age of 14 had tested positive for the virus. While a large majority of them recovered, 17 children succumbed to the infection. In Mumbai, multiple cases of mucormycosis (or black fungus) were reported in children. Three children, aged 4,6, and 14 had to undergo eye operation to keep the infection from spreading. Only one of the three had any comorbidities.
On June 18th, India recorded 62780 fresh infections. There has been a progressive decline in Covid-19 cases in the last six weeks. The current number of active cases stands at 7.98 lakh, and 96% of all Covid-infected patients have been recovered. Over 27 crore citizens have been inoculated, of which 5 crore have received both doses of the vaccines.