Throughput the pandemic, parents have been able to draw some comfort in the fact that there is only a small proportion of children among COVID-19 cases worldwide.
This fact has prompted most of us to believe that children are less vulnerable to the virus that causes Covid-19.
However, things changed when the world met a new foe — the Delta strain, which has become the dominant strain in many countries. Because of this, Covid-19 has increasingly infected children and young people in numbers that may challenge the idea that the youngest members of society face minimal risk from COVID-19.
According to reports, while children do catch the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes COVID-19, the data internationally has consistently reported the lowest rates are in children. Pre-school and primary school age children in particular appear less likely to acquire the infection. Data also suggests that children tend to have less severe cases of COVID-19 than adults. In most cases the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, which can include fever and cough, but also milder cases of pneumonia sometimes requiring hospitalization, according to a report.
Still, it leads us to the conclusion that children are Covid-proof. They are not.
Hence, the city government must continue its advocacy to get everyone vaccinated including young children. Now, if they have not received their jabs just yet, it is prudent to keep them safely tucked at home or when outdoors, that they are educated with the proper health practice.
Children need to be taught to be fully aware that they need to get themselves protected at all times. It starts with parents and adults educating them or teaching them to be wary at all times that they have their protective gear on where necessary.
Again, that responsibility begins with parents and adults.
