The re-opening of schools and in-person classes has made both parents and doctors feel the urgent need for inoculating children against COVID-19. Apurba Ghosh, director at Institute of Child Health (ICH), Kolkata, and a senior pediatrician, stated that morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 is less among children, but with the reopening of schools and in-person classes, it is important that children are administered the vaccine at the earliest.

Zydus Cadila’s 3-dose ZyCov-D has already been approved for children between 12 and 18 years in India, while Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin has been given emergency use authorization (EUA) for children above 2 years by expert committee, but the final nod from the drug regulator was still awaited.

Abhijit Chowdhury, head IPGMER hepatology and member of Bengal’s Global Advisory Board for COVID-19 Response, said that even if a single case of COVID-19 infection is reported in children, parents would panic and physical classes might have to be suspended again. So vaccination was necessary for the protection of children from the infection.

Jaydeep Choudhury, ICH professor, said that online classes for a long period were causing psychological issues among children and hence, vaccination was important to resume in-person classes. Swasthya Bhawan official said that the health ministry may announce a vaccination drive for children only after Covaxin receives the go-ahead. The Bengal state family welfare officer, Asim Das Malakar, stated that in Bengal, 2.45 crore children above 2 years will be eligible for vaccination and the state is ready with the infrastructure.

Source: ET Healthworld