Action plan for child care ready, no cause for panic: VK Paul

Niti Aayog member VK Paul, who gave a detailed presentation on preparedness for paediatric Covid-19 care to the Group of Ministers responsible for the pandemic management on Monday, later assured that there was no scientific indication yet of any increased vulnerability among children but weighed in favour being logistically prepared.

“It is known that older children have been getting infected but often have little symptoms and only rarely any serious disease. They also infect others. It is important to ensure preparedness for pediatric Covid in adequate measure going forward for which government has provided an action plan,” said Paul at a subsequent interaction.

“If we vaccinate the adult population optimally, the spread of pandemic will be small and children would also suffer less. Ultimately, children should also receive vaccine that is effective among them. Ongoing trials of Indian vaccines in India will pave way for that strategy,” he added.


On Mucormycosis, health minister Harsh Vardhan told the GoM that India has reported 28,252 cases of Mucormycosis, or black fungus, with 6,339 cases in Maharashtra and 5,486 cases in Gujarat alone. Some patients who have recovered from Covid-19 have been found vulnerable to the fungus attack on the eyes, lungs, face and sometimes the brain.