Children may not get affected in third wave, suggests AIIMS Director

With several experts fearing that the third wave of coronavirus will adversely affect children, AIIMS Delhi Director Dr Randeep Guleria has stated that there is no evidence to believe so. Quoting the second wave data, the expert observed that, out of all the kids admitted in hospitals, 60-70% had co-morbidities or low immunity. 

Also Read: Woman births 10 babies, may ace Guinness World Record

He added that healthy children got rid of Covid-19 with no or mild illness in the second wave. This is an encouraging fact. “There is no data to show children will be seriously infected in subsequent waves,” he iterated. 

He said that the third wave of the notorious Spanish Flu in 1918 was not as severe as the second wave. 

Meanwhile, States such as Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are preparing for the third wave that they believe might affect children more. “In view of the third wave, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has decided to vaccinate all the mothers having children below 5 years. Advance tokens will be issued to beneficiaries by ANM/ASHA with the details of the vaccination centre with the date and time in it,” an official note today said. 

Some of the Chief Ministers and the healthcare fraternity seem to believe that it’s better to be over-cautious, considering that children’s lives could be at stake if a pessimistic scenario plays out.