Children May Not Have Severe Infection Of COVID19 In Third Wave Which Is Expected In Sept-Oct: AIIMS Director

Mumbai: Dr Randeep Guleria, Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has said that India may see a third wave of COVID-19 in September-October. He further said that the Indian Council of Medical Research’s fourth national COVID serosurvey found that two to one-third of the country’s population is above six. years of age. Along with having SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, the vaccination campaign is also going on in a big way.

Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Dr Guleria said that with states gradually lifting restrictions like lockdown and people not following COVID-19 protocols, the possibility of a third wave hitting the country is most likely in September-October.

Commenting on the predictions of several health experts that a possible third wave of COVID could adversely affect children, the AIIMS director said that he does not think that the coming wave will cause severe infections or affect most of the children.

Dr Guleria said that the latest serosurvey has found that children were infected with the disease during the first and second wave but survived with mild infection. He further emphasized that serosurvey and some other studies have also found that 50-60 per cent have developed anti-bodies.

The AIIMS Director said that Bharat Biotech Vaccine and Zydus Cadila Vaccine for children may be available soon. Dr Guleria said that Zydus has completed its trials, it is likely to launch in September.

The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has estimated that a third wave is likely to hit India by the end of August and said it is not inevitable.

ICMR’s latest sero survey showed that two-thirds of the general population in India had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2.

ICMR DG Dr Balram Bhargava told reporters in July, “Two-thirds of the general population had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and one-third of the population did not have antibodies, which means that 400 million people are still vulnerable. are in the category.

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