Aclinical summary presented by a group of physicians and public health experts to the World Health Organization (WHO) has pointed to a sharp rise in hospital admissions in Covid-positive kids above the age of two in South Africa
This has led to speculation that the severity of the disease has increased among children, at a time when the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is sweeping through the country. So far, children and adolescents had shown stronger immune response to Covid-19 and experienced mild to moderate illnesses with no dangerous complications.
However, there is no evidence of increase in severity in adult and most of the patients are asymptomatic, doctors have told WHO.
The same group of experts told the WHO in a virtual meeting that South Africa’s Gauteng province has witnessed an increase in cases, while Northern Cape is the only exception to the spike in infections. India Today is privy to the presentations that were made at this internal webinar.
Importantly, doctors have indicated that there is a sharp uptick in weekly positivity rate, warning that surge preparedness must not be ignored.
The clinical physicians have informed the WHO that analysis of SGTF or S Gene Target Failure and severity will be done this week.
Read More:- Australia finds new Omicron-like, but harder to detect, covid variant
PROTECT CHILDREN’
Meanwhile, the WHO office for Europe said Tuesday that children in the 5 to 14 age group now account for the highest rates of Covid-19 cases in the region.
He stressed the continued threat from the widespread delta variant, and noted the new omicron variant has so far accounted for 432 confirmed cases in 21 countries in the region.
Kluge urged countries to “protect children and the schools” amid the rapid increase in cases among the young in the region, and said the incidence of Covid-19 was two to three times higher among young children than the average population in some places.
Children have tended to face less severe cases than more vulnerable populations like older people, health care workers and people with weaker immune systems.
Read More:= South Africa’s Covid Hospital Admissions More Than Double In A Day
INDIA YET TO ROLL OUT VACCINES FOR KIDS
Meanwhile, in India, vaccination for kids is yet to start. Zydus Cadila’s ZyCoV-D vaccine is yet to be rolled out in children despite emergency use approval granted in September .
Covaxin, too, has been recommended for use in children above the age of two by the Subject Expert Committee but the drug regulator is yet to clear it.
The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), met on Monday to discuss boosters and vaccines for kids but the blueprint is yet to be revealed.
First reported in South Africa, the Omicron variant has made its way to opposite sides of the world and into 50 countries, India being one of them. The identification of the new variant of concern has fuelled demands both for the additional dose, as well as roll out of vaccines for kids, at least for those who are immuno-compromised.
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