Nagpur: After infecting largely senior citizens in the first, and younger population in the second wave, presumed to have originated in Vidarbha and nearing its peak now, the administration is anticipating third wave of Covid-19 in September.
Experts in the field of paediatrics and infectious diseases told TOI that government must expedite paediatric vaccination roll out otherwise the anticipated third wave of Covid-19 will catch young population under 18 years of age and it would be a ‘very very serious’ form of Covid-19.
“Paediatric vaccine roll out is important. Otherwise the third wave will affect unvaccinated people below 18 years of age,” said Dr Nitin Shinde, infectious disease specialist. “Vaccination for citizens between 18 and 44 years of age group has already started. Many people above this age-group have already got the vaccine protection. So now, the virus will target those who don’t have this protection,” said Dr Shinde.
Though, Covid-19 hardly creates serious complications in children at present, the number of infected kids is growing in the second wave. “Cities like Mumbai and Pune have seen more children infected with Covid-19 in the present wave as compared to the first one,” said Dr Deepti Jain, HoD of paediatric department at GMCH. “Though children don’t suffer severe illnesses, but they are carriers of the infection. They can infect the elderly. To avoid this, we need vaccine for kids,” she said, anticipating third wave by September.
Paediatrician and vice-president of Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) Dr Vinky Rughwani said children between 6 and 12 years will be vulnerable. “Third wave could be more serious for children from 0 to 18 years of age. The 0-18 age group consists of 30% of total population of India and herd immunity is impossible without vaccinating such a major part,” said Dr Rughwani.
Dr Ashish Tajne, who has been coordinator of several human trials of Covid-19 vaccine in Central India, said paediatric trials won’t take much time. “Once we get green signal from the government, it will take 90 days to bring vaccine for kids. After blood tests and RT-PCR, eligible kids will be administered vaccine on zero day. Antibody test will be done on 28th, 56th and 90th day and result will be out quickly,” he said.
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Sources in Bharat Biotech, makers of Covaxin, informed that their application is pending with the Drug Controller General of India and it is most likely to get the final nod in a week. Nagpur will also be one of the trial sites for paediatric trial of Covaxin.
As vaccine is now open for all 18+ citizens, the only deprived age group is 0-18 years
This group accounts for 30% of the total population of country
Herd immunity cannot be achieved without their vaccination
Children are carriers of infection and they can continue to infect people in third wave
School reopening, a big step towards normalcy, will be possible only after paediatric vaccination
