Institute of Management Studies, Ghaziabad

(University Courses Campus)

REPORT OF HEALTH TALK SERIES

Summary of the Event:

The second wave of COVID-19 witnessed a surge in the number of kids infected by the virus. Children who were until then being considered as silent carriers were equally prone to the virus this time and showed varied symptoms. This has stirred a lot of questions among parents regarding the third wave.

School of Biosciences, IMS Ghaziabad, University Courses Campus in association with GMA & IIRF, India organised a Health Talk Series. Talk entitled ?Third Wave of Covid-19 in India: Need to know about strategies? was scheduled on May 30, 2021 Sunday. Dr. Anand Prakash Singh, Postdoctoral Scholar, Medicine- Cardiovascular Disease, The University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA and Dr. Sunil Kumar Polipalli, Cytogeneticist, Paediatrics Research & Genetic Lab, Department of Paediatrics, Lok Nayak Hospital, New delhi were the eminent speakers for the talk.

The event was incepted with welcome address by Honourable Director, Dr. Sapna Rakesh. She insisted that the awareness of Covid 19 third wave is an essential first step to safeguard our future especiallyconsidering that the nation was caught off-guard by the second wave which brought the entire healthcare system to its knees.

Dr. Anand Prakash Singh informed thatlooking at the rate of coronavirus infection among kids and the non-availability of the vaccination, it is being speculated that the upcoming third wave of coronavirus will hit children the most. This has caused a lot of panic and confusion among the parents. However, the countries pediatrics association has mentioned that parents must not be scared of coronavirus as it might have no grave impact on kids. It has been said children will be infected the most during the third Covid-19 wave, but it is merely a claim without any evidence.

Dr Sunil Kumar Polipalli stated that Going by the data, almost 90 per cent of COVID-19 infection cases reported in the second wave of coronavirus, either kids had mild symptoms or were asymptomatic. This is due to the lesser expression of specific receptors to which this infectious virus binds to enter the body and immune system. This reduces the risk of developing a moderate or severe infection in kids. Indeed, kids are equally at risk of developing an infection, but the risk of severe infection is unlikely. Children are not immune from the infection, but the impact is minimal.

Both the guest speakers focused on the mass vaccination as soon as possible to vulnerable people so that the herd immunity can be developed to protect kids also. Vaccination is the only way to deal with the upcoming waves severity.

The talk concluded on a positive note that the parents should not be in panic as far as kids? infections rate is concerned in India but it is always better to be aware about the safety and protection of the kids from Covid-19 by following Covid appropriate behavior and mass vaccination.

Dr. Abha Vashiatha, Program Chairperson, School of Biosciences extended her heartfelt thanks to the guests for their benign presence and invited them to visit the campus in person, once back to normal days.

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Chairperson                                                                                                   Director