Covid-19: Vaccination for children to roll out by September

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Vaccination for children and young adults aged between 11 and 17 may begin by September as the third Covid wave is looming around the corner that may primarily target children and young adults. In a recent study published in the Lancet medical journal, it is said that living with children aged between 11 and 17 increases the chances of getting infected by 18-30%.

Children can transmit virus to older people

In what could be double jeopardy, Children who may carry only a mild infection can still transmit the same to older people who may be symptomatic of the coronavirus infection.

“If you are living with children who are mildly infected they can carry the infection home and if they are living with high risks group of people, especially the older population who have co-morbidities then they have high chances of getting infected,” said Dr. Randeep Guleria, director, All India Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in a media interview.

He also adds that parents do not want to risk their children by sending them to school as they may carry the infection and spread it to their grandparents which may cause a severe infection attack in the family. As far as the lancet study is concerned he said that more data is needed, but even in the case of influenza the same happens, where children with mild infection could pass on to the older people, making it severe.

A lot of vaccines for children are already on clinical trials and are waiting for approval. “Zydus vaccine has already done trial on children and is awaiting approval, Bharat Biotech vaccine is also waiting for approval and Pfizer vaccines have been approved by FDA” Guleria added.

It is expected that by September, the vaccination for children would commence, he said.