Despite making up 30% of the population, younger people comprise only 12% of COVID cases and 5% of hospital admissions.
According to the Health Department, children at the risk of severe disease are those under one year and people with other comorbidities.
The admission of children with COVID-19 at various health facilities has raised questions about whether children should be vaccinated against COVID or not. There’s currently no vaccine approved for children under the age of 12 in South Africa.
Paediatrics Unit Professor Jeané Cloete at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria says, “Should the children be vaccinated? If the child is older than 12 and eligible for vaccination – Yes, we should take the child to be vaccinated. It is the only way we can protect them against the virus. For children younger than 12 vaccination is not available for children 5 to 12. Although it is approved overseas. It will have to be approved by SAPHRA first before we can vaccinate children in those age groups.”
A group of anti-vaccine NGOs has approached the High Court in Pretoria to challenge the government from administering the COVID-19 vaccine on children.
Hope for Humanity NGO’s Gerald Hardy says, “It’s a court case actually stopping SAPHRA from jabbing children. I mean they did that at schools without the consent of the parents. They keep bringing the age down despite WHO saying it’s 99.96% recovery and unhealthy to do it to the kids. But, as various parental and political groups, we are resisting and we are saying it is enough.”
Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi earlier said that most parents are willing to have their children vaccinated despite objection by some.
“Like here in Tshwane, since we started vaccinating the 12 – 17 years old. We have vaccinated more than 4 000 and most of the parents we interact with are telling us that they just want their children to write exams and after that, they will bring them. Some of them just come without being accompanied by their parents. But, we advise that they come with … so that they can observe them after they vaccinate,” says Mokgethi.
Professor Cloete says the admission rate of children with various illnesses at Paedeatric Units has gone down significantly.
“As compared to the previous three weeks ago when we had many admissions. Most children are admitted with mild to moderate diseases. Which means we can manage the children with supported measures. Most of them will be able to go home within one to four days after they were admitted. Those who were admitted had severe disease but often they have other conditions which increase their condition with the COVID-19,” explains Cloete.
Over 90 000 people have succumbed due to COVID-19 related complications in SA since the outbreak of the pandemic more than a year ago.
Latest COVID-19 Stats:
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