Goemkarponn desk
Panaji: Considering that the anticipated third wave of COVID-19 may have a bigger impact on infants and children, the Expert Committee of doctors has recommended that COVID vaccination should be encouraged for all lactating women on priority.
The Expert Committee headed by Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar held its first meeting today. The Expert group pressed for the need to be prepared with testing facilities, beds, isolation norms, ventilators, oximeters for children in a bid to minimize the effects of a possible third wave, which according to experts could affect children the most.
The recommendations would be placed before the Task Force headed by the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, for necessary directions and implementation.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Bandekar said that the third wave is anticipated to hit the country by September and it will have its major impact on infants and children below age of 18 years. He said that along with revamping the existing infrastructure to tackle the third wave, the Expert Group has recommended that the vulnerable section be categorized into three- Infant, general pediatric age and adolescent group.
“During this third wave, there is a possibility of virus transmission to infants through mothers. Hence vaccinating lactating mothers will help us in a big way. This is probably the best way to provide the little ones with relative immunity against the virus,” Bandekar said.
He said that lactating mothers as well as mothers with co-morbidities would be considered for vaccination on priority under the age group of 18-44 years.
Bandekar also said that though the third wave will impact children, its severity seems to be on the lower side.
Expert group member Dr Jagdish Cacodkar said that the second wave has already hit 11-12 per cent of the children below the age of 20 years in Goa. “The scenario is similar at all India level,” he said.
He informed that Goa has around 3.2 lakh children below 12 years and 4 lakh in the age of 18 years.
Cacodkar said that currently there are 101 beds in neonatal ICU units in GMC which would be increased by another ten beds, while five more in South district hospital.
He said that all the private pediatricians have come forward to provide the service to the State during the third wave. “We have put up proposal before IMA that if need arises, one dedicated COVID pediatric hospital in North and South Goa be put in place,” the doctor said.
Dr M N Silvera, HOD Pediatric section, has urged parents to be alert and if any child is suffering from diarrhea or vomiting or having co-morbidities should be referred to a doctor immediately.
