Leading Thai virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan. - The Nation Thailand/ANN
BANGKOK, April 26 (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Children under 5 who catch Covid-19 are at higher risk of developing severe symptoms leading to death than older children and adults, leading Thai virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan said on Tuesday.
“Since January the Public Health Ministry has recorded 51 deaths in children due to Covid-19. Of them, 39 are under 5 years old,” Yong wrote on Facebook.
Nineteen of the deceased toddlers had underlying health problems but 20 were healthy before contracting Covid-19, he added.
In contrast, most Covid deaths in children aged over 5 were in those with health problems.
Yong said one factor driving the high death rate in children under 5 was Thailand’s lower age limit for vaccination of five years old.
“Vaccines greatly help reduce the chance of patients developing severe symptoms and dying, but these children aren’t getting any,” he pointed out.
Many countries are now giving vaccines to children as young as three, he added.
“In China, children aged 3-5 receive inactivated vaccines, which are safer than other types.”
Yong cited a case study in the Lancet medical journal supporting giving vaccines to young children.
He added that Covid-19 vaccination for children under five is being considered by Thai authorities but urged them to make a decision soon to reduce Covid-19 deaths in toddlers and the pain borne by parents.
Meanwhile, Thailand's Public Health Ministry reported on Tuesday (April 26) that in the past 24 hours there are 13,816 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 57 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.
Death toll increased by 120, while 21,072 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 1,971,249.
The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 4,194,684 – 3,999,541 of whom have recovered, 167,124 are still in hospitals and 28,019 have died. - The Nation Thailand/.ANN
