Nagpur: After infecting largely senior citizens in the first, and younger population in the second wave, presumed to have originated in Vidarbha and nearing its peak now, the administration is anticipating third wave of Covid-19 in September.
Experts in the field of paediatrics and infectious diseases told TOI that government must expedite paediatric vaccination roll out otherwise the anticipated third wave of Covid-19 will catch young population under 18 years of age and it would be a ‘very very serious’ form of Covid-19.
“Paediatric vaccine roll out is important. Otherwise the third wave will affect unvaccinated people below 18 years of age,” said Dr Nitin Shinde, infectious disease specialist. “Vaccination for citizens between 18 and 44 years of age group has already started. Many people above this age-group have already got the vaccine protection. So now, the virus will target those who don’t have this protection,” said Dr Shinde.
Though, Covid-19 hardly creates serious complications in children at present, the number of infected kids is growing in the second wave. “Cities like Mumbai and Pune have seen more children infected with Covid-19 in the present wave as compared to the first one,” said Dr Deepti Jain, HoD of paediatric department at GMCH. “Though children don’t suffer severe illnesses, but they are carriers of the infection. They can infect the elderly. To avoid this, we need vaccine for kids,” she said, anticipating third wave by September.
Third wave is inevitable, says Principal Scientific Advisor:
K. Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Advisor, while addressing the media during the Health Ministry’s briefing said that a third wave was inevitable in the country.
The second wave was expected, he said, while adding that a third wave is inevitable and we have to be prepared and vaccine updates were needed.
He said it is vital that people persisted with Covid-appropriate behaviour as the virus-variants don’t change behaviour. He said the vaccines were effective as of now.
Meanwhile, Lav Agarwal, Joint Health Secretary, said that Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Gujarat have recorded a dip in daily cases recorded.
However, an increase in the number of daily cases was noted in States like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Haryana and Punjab among others.
The Joint Health Secretary noted the rise in cases in cities like Bengaluru, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kanpur among others as alarming.
16.05 crore doses of vaccines have been shelled out until now, Mr. Agarwal said.
Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology said the virus mutation was nothing new.
Dr. Sujeet Singh, National Centre for Disease Control says: “The B1.1.7 lineage of the SARS CoV-2 (U.K. variant) has been declining in proportion across the country in the last one and a half month.”
VK Paul, member of NITI Aayog, while speaking at the event said that mutation will go on and we need to have a scientific watch on them. Response to the changing virus remains the same, he added.
“Vaccination protects you,” he said.
He called for physicians to come forward for providing tele-consultation to those confined at homes. – Bindu Shajan Perappadan
