More than 50 per cent of the children in Mumbai have developed antibodies to fight against Covid-19, according to a sero-survey carried out in metropolis between January and June this year when the ferocious second coronavirus wave was sweeping across the country.
The sero-survey for SARS-CoV-2 infection among the paediatric population of Mumbai was conducted by BYL Nair Hospital and Kasturba Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory of the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in order to be prepared for the danger that children could face in case a third coronavirus wave hits the country.
"This is good news because it shows that at least half the population below 18 is protected from COVID-19, but we will make sure that we don't let our guard down," Suresh Kakani, Mumbai's Additional Municipal Commissioner who oversaw the survey, said.
Also read: Zydus Cadila trial for 12-18 concluded, 5 cr jabs by Dec: Centre to SC
An estimated 1.5 million of Mumbai's 12.8 million population are younger than 18, and none of them have been vaccinated as India has not approved any shots for children, he said.
Mumbai would repeat the survey every three months, he added.
The survey has found that more than 50 per cent of the paediatric population in health care settings has antibodies to Covid-19. Seropositivity is highest in the age group 10-14 years, at 53.43 per cent. The sero-positivity rate of 1-4 years is 51.04 per cent, 5-9 years is 47.33 per cent, 10-14 years is 53.43 per cent, from 15-18 years it is 51.39 per cent. The overall sero-positivity rate of 1-18 years is 51.18 per cent.
There is also a significant increase in the seropositivity in children to SARS-CoV-2 in this study as compared to Serosurvey 3 conducted in March 2021 which showed a sero-positivity of 39.4 per cent in the age group of 18 or more years. This indicates that a large number of children accessing the healthcare services were exposed to the virus during the second wave of Covid-19.
The blood samples were made available from the samples received in laboratories for various medical investigations and were transported from public and private laboratories to Kasturba Molecular Laboratory.
Across 24 wards of Mumbai, a total of 2,176 blood samples were collected from pathology laboratories.
