What prevents the child infection at Christmas
picture: Montage Watson
The 0 to 9 year olds and the 10 to 19 year olds are the most covid-contaminated age groups. Some cantons have started to take measures against the uncontrolled infection. Can this still save Christmas?
Soon the youngest among us could cause unrest at the end of the year. That is, more than usual. This does not mean that they can knock down the tree or recite literally endless poems, But that they might bring an unwanted friend named Covid to family dinner with grandpa and grandma.
“We know that the virus spreads rapidly in children between the ages of 5 and 11. This age group is massively affected. “
Virginie Masserey, BAG
In fact, according to the latest federal figures, the two age groups that were most heavily infected with Covid at the end of November were 0 to 9 year olds (747 cases per 100,000 inh.) And 10 to 19 year olds (1 ‘ 219 cases per 100,000 inh.).
Why were the children not earlier protected?
A recent study by the Pasteur Institute in Paris has shown that that children who die living in the same household increase the likelihood of contracting Covid by 30. A fact that does not surprise Olivia Keizer, Professor of Epidemiology at the Institute for Global Health at the University of Geneva:
“I’m worried about Christmas time. Very few measures have been taken to protect children. At least not the ones that would have been necessary. “
Olivia Keizer, Professor of Epidemiology at the Institute for Global Health at the University of Geneva.
Since the beginning of the week, some French-speaking cantons have been trying to take measures. Geneva has introduced a mask requirement from the age of eight, Vaud from the age of ten and Neuchâtel from the age of 12. But last Friday, under pressure from the cantons, the Federal Council refrained from enforcing systematic tests in schools.
But why didn’t you act faster? Olivia Keizer emphasizes that communication regarding children has been problematic war from the beginning of the pandemic. “At the beginning it was said that they would not become infected and then that they would not infect adults. Today, however, we find that that is not true. “
The professor of epidemiology points out that. Long Covid and severe forms of the disease are less common in younger people, but can still occur. She adds:
“By passing the virus on, children are contributing a lot to the epidemic we are currently experiencing.”
Olivia Keizer, Professor of Epidemiology at the Institute for Global Health at the University of Geneva.
According to Keizer, the parents’ resistance, especially against the mask requirement in schools, did not help. The Geneva pediatrician and infectiologist Alessandro Diana can understand the reluctance of the parents. “I understand their concern because, like all mammals, we try to protect our little ones. The overprotective reflex is anchored in our genes. “
However, the pediatrician is unsure of what he observes in his practice whether it would actually bother the children so much to wear a mask. “It’s a projection of our fears as adults. And the mask seems to me to be less traumatic than a hospital stay or the loss of a parent or grandparent. “
Mask requirement, but from what change?
Alessandro Diana argues that children should wear face masks from now on. Without naming a specific age the infectiologist refers to the USA, where children from two years of age have to wear a face mask, and in Italy, where the mask requirement already applies from elementary school.
“We can say to ourselves: let’s put the mask on those who can take it off themselves if they are bothered by it.”
Alessandro Diana, pediatrician and infectiologist..
Olivia Keizer confirms that the mask is useful for all school-age children, but also for other solutions that can be quickly introduced in younger children. This includes better ventilation of the classroom, the use of CO2-Sensors as well as quarantine measures and systematic tests of the students twice a week. “This could allow the virus to be detected much earlier. If you wait for symptoms to appear, it’s too late. “
Keizer as co-author of a scientific paper on Infections in Children, which was published last October, suggests even more drastic steps:
“Another effective measure would be to close schools earlier before the holidays. This could contain infections before family meals. “
Olivia Keizer, Professor of Epidemiology at the Institute for Global Health at the University of Geneva.
A strategy that has already been implemented in Belgium, for example, where school holidays are now brought forward by a week. Alessandro Diana confirms the effectiveness of the measure, but emphasizes that it should only be used with caution. «That reduces the transmissions, but you only do that when you are on the verge of the collapse of the health system. Because that brings with it other problems: Who should take care of the children? “
Refusing child vaccinations would be “unethical”
Even if it will not have a direct impact on the Christmas holidays, vaccination of 5 to 11 year olds is another solution which, according to Olivia Keizer, will also be offered in Switzerland as soon as possible. “Millions of children in the US have been vaccinated and there are fewer side effects observed than in adults.” She believes that parents can have their children vaccinated if they so wish:
“We vaccinate children against many other diseases that are less dying than Covid.”
Olivia Keizer, Professor of Epidemiology at the Institute for Global Health at the University of Geneva.
Alessandro Diana agrees and even goes a step further. “In my opinion, it is unethical not to offer this protection to children over the age of five.” However, the expert at the Infovac platform recommends performing a serology beforehand to determine whether the child has antibodies or not. However, this could create quite a dilemma for the parents. “If my child is sero-negative, should I, as a parent, expose them to the virus or the vaccine?”
And what about Christmas?
But how can you celebrate Christmas when you know that the children could come with an unwanted souvenir? “It is best to avoid large family dinners. Instead, you should meet outside or in small groups »says Olivia Keizer. She also advises opening windows regularly and getting tested before meetings. Finally, Alessandro Diana asks to respect some barriers and distances:
“As a non-vaccinated grandparent, it might be better not to hug the grandchildren.”
Alessandro Diana, pediatrician and infectiologist.
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