MHA panel warns of third wave peak in October, alerts risk on children
New Delhi : A MHA panel has issued a warning that the third wave of coronavirus may reach its peak around around October and children could be affected as severely as adults.
In its report submitted to the PMO, the committee has highlighted the need of infrastructure for the treatment of kids. They have raised an urgent need of doctors, staff, and equipment like ventilators and ambulances, if a large number of children got infected by the virus.
According to a report in The Times of India, the committee of experts was set up under the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) of the MHA. The experts have also notified an urgent need of prioritising a vaccination drive against the virus for children with co-morbidities and those with special needs.
Recently, first coronavirus vaccine for kids above 12 years of age was approved for emergency use in India. The vaccine for kids has been developed by Zydus Cadila.
Earlier, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya had hinted that children may start receiving their doses against the virus from September.
The experts’ study titled ‘Third Wave Preparedness: Children Vulnerability and Recovery’ found, like several other previous related works, while children may not be severely infected by the virus, they may pass it on to others.
