IMPORTANT! Will 3rd wave of COVID-19 AFFECT children? Expert says THIS - check all details here

Will 3rd Wave of COVID-19 Affect Children: The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic had an adverse impact on the country. People are worried about the fact that if any subsequent waves will affect the children. In this regard, Dr. Praveen Kumar, Director, Department of Pediatrics, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi has spoken about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on children and how to protect them. Dr. Kumar has also reflected on the need for vaccination of the pregnant and women and lactating mothers. 

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The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a press release where, Dr. Praveen Kumar has answered about the above-mentioned issues. When asked if the future waves can affect children more severely, Dr. Kumar responded that COVID-19 is a new virus that has potential to mutate but whether the future waves will affect children more or with increased severity are speculations. 

He added, "People speculate that future waves may affect children more as most of the adults will be vaccinated in the next few months while we do not have any approved vaccine for children at this point in time." 

Regarding the second wave, Dr. Kumar informed that the second wave has affected children equally. He said that as COVID-19 is a new virus and it affects all age groups because one does not have natural immunity against this virus. He noted that as per the NCDC/IDSP dashboard, approximately 12 per cent of infected COVID was contributed by patients less than 20 years of age.

Dr. Kumar warned about the fact that all the adults should take vaccines which in turn will also protect the children to a great extent. He further noted that now COVID-19 vaccine has been made available for pregnant women and lactating mothers. This will give a certain degree of protection to the growing foetus and new-born against the deadly infection.

As per the data release by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India has reported 41,383 new COVID-19 cases as on July 22, 2021. Also, 41.78 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered under the nationwide vaccination drive.