Kids below 12 yrs who are at high risk can be considered for COVID-19 vaccination
New Delhi, Apr 01: With many states ending Covid restrictions and some even lifting the mask mandate, Director of National Institute of Virology Dr Priya Abraham said COVID-19 vaccination can be considered for children below the age of 12 years who are at high risk.
Abraham said children mostly have mild Covid infection but those who are at high risk and have comorbidities can experience complications. However, the proportion of such children is very less, she said.
"Going by that, in my opinion, children below the age of 12 years who are at high risk -- as in those who are on dialysis, have immunosuppression and also are suffering from cancer, among others -- need to be vaccinated," Abraham told PTI.
On some states making the wearing of masks voluntary, she said right now, infections are low in the country.
"But I don't think it is time that we completely throw our precautions away. I believe that we must wear a mask in any crowded place where we are sitting fairly close to each other or in a poorly ventilated space. A mask definitely has a role in curtailing transmission," she said.
On how important masks are for children going to school, she said, "Going around with masks is a bit inconvenient and children are not used to wearing masks. So parents will ask why use masks."
"But I am a little conservative. Children do pick up infection but most often they are asymptomatic. But if a child catches infection it can get transmitted to an unvaccinated family member or a sick elderly person with comorbidities."
On
the
need
for
booster
doses
for
those
aged
below
60
years,
Dr
Abraham
said
there
is
a
role
for
precaution
doses
which
is
why
such
doses
are
being
given
to
those
aged
60
years
and
above.
"Eventually,
the
age
band
will
be
expanded
and
those
below
60
years
will
also
get
the
booster
dose.
They
are,
however,
a
low-priority
population
compared
to
the
elderly
and
those
with
comorbidities.
As
the
vaccination
drive
opens
up,
those
below
60
will
also
get
the
booster
dose.
"Giving a booster dose after a certain gap following primary vaccination definitely increases the immune response," she said.
Asked whether transmission of COVID-19 from humans to animals is of concern, Abraham said, "We have to be cautious when we handle animals, especially those which don't mingle with humans."
"We don't know which animal species would be conducive to picking up the infection. We have to bear in mind that infection can transmit from us to animals which is called reverse zoonosis and come back to us as well.
"Our institute has not investigated any case of reverse zoonosis yet. We need to bear it in mind, be aware and be ready to investigate if there is any suspected case. I won't like to put it down as a challenge but a plausibility," the director of National Institute of Virology added.