Dr Yousuf Ali Al mulla
During the long months that have passed since the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), remarkably everyone realized how vaccination actually works to change the nature of COVID-19’s risks to our society and other societies around the world.
With the beginning of the summer, the absolute number of cases may decrease with the arrival of a large amount of the vaccine in the Sultanate, because comprehensive vaccination limits the transmission of infection, while the relative share of cases among the non-vaccinated increases, simply because they are still vulnerable to infection.
In fact, I believe that with time the vulnerable group would be of course, children and disproportionately. Based on our vaccine request, coronavirus will start to appear as a disease affecting young people. In a way, this means that vaccines work, but it also means that many of us and in our society may change their way of thinking about the risks of COVID-19 and we will see that adults who have spent the last year worried about their elderly parents are now anxious about their children instead for instance!
Of course, the risks are not equal, as children are much less likely to die from coronavirus than the elderly. However, even if the risk is not particularly high, you as a father or you as a mother will still provide extra protection for your children because it is just human nature. So it is possible, months from now, parents will find themselves returning to normal while their children still have to wear masks probably even indoors!
On the other side, many studies have suggested that the biggest risk factor to consider for non-vaccinated children is simply the extent of the spread of coronavirus in society. Meaning if vaccination continues for us and our society at a good and continuous rate, maybe partial immunity (Herd Immunity) will slow down the transmission of this virus.
However, not everyone will feel comfortable with the same level of risk. Even before the pandemic, parents who had children with high-risk medical conditions were very careful, not to travel during the flu season for example. Thus, the presence of the coronavirus may be another reason for these families to be vigilant!
And when we go back a little bit, we recall that one of the mutated strains of coronavirus (B.1.1.7) was discovered for the first time after the opening of schools in the United Kingdom. However, the (B.1.1.7) strain is more transmissible than the original virus among all age groups.
Not to mention that all of these fears can come on top of schools, which are one of the main places where non-vaccinated people gather - such as children. Hence, perhaps the same precautions that succeeded before such as good ventilation, wearing masks, and physical distancing also still work against this type of mutated strains.
What I would like to point out is that the virus may continue to spread in different places of the homeland, as not enough eligible adults have been vaccinated in addition to unqualified children, leading by this to creating real foci of infection with the coronavirus.
At end, we are all aware that the risks to non-vaccinated children later this year depend on the actions we take now. Certainly, the faster we vaccinate and the better we reduce cases through other measures, the situation will probably be safer for anyone who remains non-vaccinated by the end of September or October for instance this year. Then, finally parents can stop telling the kids to do things that they themselves are not doing!
Dr. Yousuf Ali Al Mulla, a physician, a medical innovator and a writer. For any queries regarding the contents of the article, can be contacted at: [email protected]
