Over 22,000 children in Goa were affected by Covid-19 so far. A total of nine children having comorbidities have succumbed to the virus so far as per data collected by the Directorate of Health Services. There were five deaths during the first wave and four children succumbed to the virus during the second wave. The state government is all set to reopen the schools which will have to follow the pandemic-related protocol. It is pertinent to note that in Karnataka 72 children recently tested positive for the virus after schools reopened in that state. Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Dr Randeep Guleria said that vaccination of children is the only way to get rid of the Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier in August, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had approved Zydus Cadila's DNA vaccine for emergency use in adults and children aged 12 years and above. Now, the vaccines are waiting to be introduced in the national vaccination programme. In Goa, it would be desirable for schools to reopen only after Diwali vacation. Children need to be vaccinated before schools reopen.
