COVID-19 third wave may affect children, Bengal govt upgrades paediatric care in hospitals

The West Bengal government today held a high level meeting to prepare for a possible third wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the state. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that according to some experts, it may affect children and thus measures are being taken to remain prepared for a third wave COVID situation.

Banerjee and chief secretary HK Dwivedi said that paediatric care facilities in state hospitals are being upgraded currently to remain prepared if such a situation arises. Accordingly, 1,300 paediatric ICUs are being kept ready in state hospitals, apart from 350 SNCUs (similar facilities for new-borns to a few months’ old children). In addition, 10,000 general beds in government hospitals are also being kept ready. This target will be fulfilled by July, Dwivedi said.

Keeping in mind the high oxygen demand that was there in the second wave, the state hospitals are also laying stress on infrastructure building so that something similar does not arise in case of a third wave.

The state is also prioritising vaccination for mothers of children upto 12 years of age, considering the third wave may affect children, so these children do not contract the virus from their mothers.

According to the chief minister, about 2 crore people have been vaccinated in Bengal, including 33 lakh people considered as “super spreaders”, who have maximum exposure to large number of people. Banerjee said that the target is to reach 3 crore in July.

She asked the chief secretary to write to the Union health secretary and the cabinet secretary to work out a solution for students who have taken the Covaxin and want to travel, as this vaccine is not being accepted abroad. “It has created a difficulty for students who have to travel abroad. I would urge the Centre to either work out a solution so that either Covaxin is accepted abroad or to find out some other solution for students who need to go abroad but have taken Covaxin,” Banerjee said.