According to Bloomberg News, young children have not received their vaccinations yet, and as such their immune systems are immature, which makes them vulnerable to the virus.
Children that are below 2 years old have accounted for 10% of the total cases of patients admitted into hospitals due to omicron epicenter infection at Tshwane in South Africa, which was announced as per the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.
Before the country is entering into the fourth wave of Covid infection due to the new strain, more and more toddlers are being affected. It was only last week that scientists in South Africa announced the new strain and although seemingly, the risk from the strain is not being assessed yet, it is assumed to be mild. Travel restrictions have been set up across the world by various governments and The World Health Organization has said that it is likely it could lead to a fresh surge in infections once again.
Protection from Vaccine
Scientists studying the virus strain in South Africa have said Monday that the vaccines that are being currently administered might prove to be a protective shield against the illness, although the very small children have not been vaccinated yet. Approximately one-third of the country’s population has received their vaccines.
Bloomberg News reports that while the delta-driven infections were at their peak during the third wave, the incidence of hospital admission for the individuals under the age of 19 years increased by 43% and since then vaccination is being offered to individuals between 12 years and 17 years.
According to Waasila Jassat, who is working as the public health specialist at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, very young children have an immune system that is immature and they still have not received their shots, so they are very much at risk. Jassat has been associated with the development and management of South Africa’s national surveillance system related to Covid-19.
