A panel set up by the central government, in its latest report, has warned that a third wave of Covid-19 pandemic could peak around October. A committee of experts under the panel has demanded better medical preparedness especially for children who might be at risk just as much as adults this time.
The report of a committee of experts constituted under the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), which was set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), said, “Paediatric facilities including doctors, staff, equipment like ventilators, ambulances etc are nowhere close to what may be required in case a large number of children become infected.”
The report has called for prioritising vaccination among children with co-morbidities and a special focus on disabled children. The vulnerability of children has been discussed in the report, especially of those who haven’t been vaccinated.
The issue of vaccines for children has been at least partially resolved with the national drug regulator last week approving Zydus Cadila’s three-dose RNA vaccine for children over 12. Rollout, however, has not yet begun; Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has said this will happen “very soon”.
In the first two nationwide waves of Covid-19 pandemic, the children were considered as slightly slower risk population based on available evidence.
How the third Covid wave may affect children?
Titled, ‘Third Wave Preparedness: Children Vulnerability and Recovery’, the report has majorly focussed on children in terms of the approaching third wave, and cautioned to better prepare for the pandemic.
According to the report, there is no direct evidence that proves children in India will be more affected in the anticipated third wave. The report, however, suggests that children remain a cause of concern since they are still not vaccinated.
Among their recommendations, the experts have said “a holistic home care model, immediate increase in paediatric medical capacities and prioritising mental health issues among children” were key at the moment. They have also proposed a model wherein Covid wards could be structured in a way that guardians of infected children could safely stay with them during the treatment.
“Many health experts had initially raised concerns about the possibility of a third wave affecting children more adversely than adults. However, recent scientific data suggests otherwise,” the report said.
Meanwhile, India recorded 25,072 new cases of the novel coronavirus, along with 389 deaths due to the infection in the past 24 hours.
