SCHOOL THE PLACE TO START GOOD HABITS

A LEADING vaccine expert has reassured parents that their children will be safe against Covid-19.

UNICEF Australia senior vaccine adviser Chris Maher said children aged under 12 years were at low risk of getting seriously ill from the virus but urged schools to not get lax with infection control measures.

“Children do seem to be much less susceptible to serious infection than old people. It’s pretty well documented now,” Mr Maher said.

“(They have) basically created a pretty low-risk setting overall. The benefits of having kids going to school far outweigh any issues of potential risk.”

Mr Maher said that despite the low risk, it was critical for schools to maintain hand hygiene, mask wearing where appropriate, good ventilation and social distancing. “All the old things we did still apply. Hand washing, excellent hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette, mask wearing for adults and potentially for children in certain settings, still should stay enforced,” he said.

Mr Maher said that it can be difficult to ensure compliance among children but “schooling offers you the opportunity to get kids into really good habits”.