KIDS MAY BE AFFECTED IN THE THIRD WAVE: PGI DIRECTOR
Don’t leave aside Covid Appropriate Behaviour after vaccination, advises PGI director
LUCKNOW : Children may be at a higher risk of getting infected in the third wave of Covid. Reason: this group might not be vaccinated by then, while majority of adults might have received at least one dose of the vaccine and many have had natural infection thus giving them some protection against Covid. We need to vaccinate our children now, emphasised said Prof RK Dhiman, director, SGPGIMS. As the chairperson of the State Advisory Committee on Covid, Prof Dhiman has advised creation of more pediatric-ICUs and isolation beds in Covid hospitals. Current data shows that vaccination might not prevent infection, but it certainly reduces mortality, severity of disease and hospitalization. Hence everyone should get vaccinated, he said.
LUCKNOW : Children may be at a higher risk of getting infected in the third wave of Covid. Reason: this group might not be vaccinated by then, while majority of adults might have received at least one dose of the vaccine and many have had natural infection thus giving them some protection against Covid. We need to vaccinate our children now, emphasised said Prof RK Dhiman, director, SGPGIMS.
As the chairperson of the State Advisory Committee on Covid, Prof Dhiman has advised creation of more pediatric-ICUs and isolation beds in Covid hospitals.
“Many experts have raised concerns over the possibility of a third wave. The virus is evolving continuously and developing immune escape mechanisms. It might even dodge vaccine protection. Identification and containment of such variants would be of utmost importance,” he said.
The SGPGI is planning to identify such variants and would advise the government for its containment, he added.
“After getting vaccinated don’t leave aside Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB), thinking
you will not get Covid infection. Nearly 15% patients or more can get re-infected despite the vaccine,” said Dhiman, who got infected one and a half months after getting both the shots of vaccine.
Current data demonstrates that vaccination might not prevent infection, but it certainly reduces mortality (deaths), severity of disease and hospitalization. Hence everyone should get vaccinated, he said.
“I have advised to promote online education and not to open schools for children below 12 years. Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) must be included in the curriculum of schools and corona advisories for all age groups should be made and promoted. Corona curfew should be imposed as and when required. Besides, rapid vaccination of all age groups is required with intensity like pulse polio drive,” he added.
He added, “The second wave is more severe than the first one with regard to the infectivity of the virus and the number of new cases. Young adults have been found to be equally vulnerable to severe disease.”
“WHO has declared Covid as an airborne disease. Hence, all air-borne precautions should be practiced. The virus spreads via aerosol. CAB is the most appropriate way to stop it. Universal masking and vaccination seem to be the only solution to break the chain of transmission,” said Dhiman.
Virus is evolving continuously and developing immune escape mechanisms. It might even dodge vaccine protection. Identification and containment of such variants would be of utmost importance PROF RK DHIMAN