Indian Children’s Immunity Is Strong, Schools Should Be Opened: AIIMS Chief Dr. Randeep Guleria
New Delhi, 20th July 2021: During the second wave of the Coronavirus in India, a huge vaccination drive took place but children were still not vaccinated. However, there have been many reports about the possibility of children falling ill in the third wave. Meanwhile, AIIMS Director Dr. Randeep Guleria said that the country should consider reopening the schools. He said, “I think the time has come when we should agree to reopen the schools.” Significantly, most of the schools in the country have been closed since the first wave of Corona.
Schools were opened for a few days between November and January last year for classes 10th and 12th, but then the schools were closed again given the second wave of Corona. Guleria said, “I am talking about opening schools in those districts where the cases have been very few. This plan can be made for places with less than a 5 percent positivity rate,” Although he also said that schools may be closed immediately if there are signs of infection spreading, districts should consider bringing children to schools on alternate days and plan other ways of reopening.
Dr. Guleria further said that the reason for opening the school is not just to give a normal life to our children, but importance of school education is very important in the holistic development of a child. Guleria also highlighted why it is important for children to go to school more than online classes. He said that very few children are getting infected with the Coronavirus in India. Due to the good immunity in children, they can cure themselves soon. It has been revealed in the serosurvey that children have better antibodies than adults, so schools should be opened. Learning through the Internet is not as easy as it is in schools.
When to vaccinate children?
Dr. Guleria said that the Covid-19 vaccines for children will be made available in India by September this year. He said that the preliminary data from clinical trials of Covaxin for children are fantastic. Bharat Biotech is testing India’s first indigenous coronavirus vaccine on children. Guleria said if the vaccine offered by the manufacturer is accepted by the DCGI, the approval for the vaccines for children below the age of 2 years would come by September.
