Seeing as there is no vaccination to protect children under the age of five year from COVID-19, it is likely that you are taking extra precautions to keep them safe. But as it turns out, it is the adults that need protection from little ones!
Or at least that's what a new study has uncovered.
The said study, published in JAMA Paediatrics found that young children are more likely to transmit coronavirus within households. Especially kids aged 3 years or younger can spread the virus to other members in the house compared to those aged 14 to 17 years.
The study, analysed public health data from Ontario, to identify coronavirus clusters in which a child was the primary case within households.
COVID In Children Under 5 Likely To Spread To Family Members
As part of the study, 6,280 households with COVID-19 index patients –17 years and younger from June 1 to December 31, 2020 – were considered.
- Out of the 6,280 households, 1,717 experienced SARS-CoV-2 transmission to two siblings/caregivers in the house, 1 to 14 days after the index patient was diagnosed.
- Children aged 0 to 8 had a higher odds of transmitting the virus.
- Those who were 3 years and younger had the greatest infectivity (odds ratio [OR], 1.43 vs those 14 to 17 years).
- The proportions of index patients in each age group rose with age:
- 12% in (0-3 years)
- 20% in (4 to 8 years)
- 30% in (9 to 13 years)
- 38% in (14 to 17 years)
It was found that babies and toddlers are more likely to spread COVID-19 to parents and caregivers because they are cared for directly and are in close contact.
This study updated the experts' understanding of coronavirus risk in different age groups. In fact, it is the opposite of what was being told in the past.
Earlier, some scientists suggested that the risk of transmission declined with age. This assumption was skewed as it didn't take into account lockdowns where young kids were spending more time at home.
This study, therefore, highlights that in the case of COVID in children under 5, they are more likely to transmit the virus. However, it doesn't mean they are more likely to die if infected. The risk of death and severe infection is still lower in young kids as compared to older children.
Larger family sizes and testing delays increase transmission chances
This study also found that kids were more likely to spread the virus amid testing delays. Larger family sizes also increased the chances of transmission.
The authors further noted that because there were fewer COVID-19 diagnoses in children than in adults –amid lockdowns and limited testing capacity early in the pandemic–pediatric household transmission hasn't been well characterised.
Now, as the paediatric cases have increased since the schools have reopened and with the easing of public health measures, more data are available to better elucidate child-to-household virus spread.
The study took place in 2020, which is prior to the emergence of the Delta variant. So more research is needed to understand the risk of transmission in the context of the new variant. It was also held prior to vaccines being available, so at that time, all the household members were unvaccinated.
The research spoke about the importance of mitigation strategies at childcare facilities, including good ventilation, cleaning and masking whenever possible.
Vaccination Of All Eligible Household Members Must Be Done At The Earliest
Researchers pointed that as it is challenging and almost impossible to socially isolate from sick children, so caregivers need to exercise caution. For instance, they should use masks, increase hand-washing, and practice separation from siblings to minimise the risk of spread.
The study concluded that all eligible people, over the age of 12, must get vaccinated. Dr Paul Offit spoke to ABC News to point that, "We've let our kids down. The moat around the fire is the parents. They can be vaccinated."
Citing another study, more than 120,000 children contracted Covid-19 last week in the US. This is another “substantial” increase from the previous week, according to an American Academy of Pediatrics report.
As more kids are getting exposed, experts say that masks and vaccines help to curb further increase in numbers.
As you are aware, children under 12 are not yet eligible for a vaccine, and uptake has been slow among those 12 to 15 years old. Until a vaccine is approved for younger kids, masks and other mitigation measures will be required to protect the kids.
At the moment, all eyes are on the Pfizer vaccine which is expected to be available for kids under 12 by this year. Pfizer is currently conducting clinical trials on children aged 6 months to 11 years.
The vaccine maker is planning to request emergency authorisation for its vaccine on children ages 5 to 11, in October 2021. So far, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination is authorised for use in kids ages 12 to 15 years only.
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