Sero-survey finds they’ve developed antibodies already
In a finding that will have a major bearing on the much-anticipated “third wave” of Covid-19, a sero-survey conducted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has revealed that more than 50 per cent of the paediatric population — already exposed to SARS-COV-2 — has developed antibodies.
One of the key findings of sero-survey of SARS-CoV-2 infection among the children in Mumbai — conducted by BYL Nair Hospital and Kasturba Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory of the BMC — suggested that “more than 50 per cent of the paediatric population in a healthcare setting have already been exposed to SARS-COV-2”.
“The overall sero-positivity is 51.18 per cent. This includes 54.36 per cent from the public sector and 47.03 per cent from the private sector. Moreover, it is found that, the proportion of paediatric population having antibodies increased as compared to earlier sero-survey. Seropositivity is highest in the age group 10-14 years i. e. 53.43 per cent,” Mumbai Municipal Commissioner IS Chahal said, giving details of the sero-survey findings of paediatric population.
Anticipating that the possible third wave of Covid-19 might affect children disproportionately, Chahal and Additional Municipal Commissioner (Western Suburbs) Suresh Kakani had directed the two medical establishments to conduct sero-survey of paediatric population during the second wave itself.
As per the directions, BYL Nair Hospital and Kasturba Molecular Laboratory conducted the sero-survey between April 1 and June 15, 2021.
“These 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,” the BMC statement said.
As many as 2,176 blood samples were collected from pathology laboratories spread across 24 civic wards of Mumbai — comprising 1,283 from Aapli Chikitsa Network and Nair Hospital of BMC and 893 from a network SER of two private laboratories.
According to the findings, the sero-positivity is highest in the age group 10-14 years i. e. 53.43 per cent. The Sero-positivity rate of 1 to 4 years is 51.04 per cent, 5 to 9 years is 47.33 per cent, 10 to 14 years is 53.43 per cent, 15 to 18 years is 51.39%. The overall Sero-positivity rate of 1 to 18 years is 51.18%.
“There is a notable increase in the sero-positivity in the paediatric population to SARS-CoV-2 in this study as compared to Sero-survey 3 conducted in March 2021 which showed a sero-positivity of 39.4% in the age group of ? 18 years which indicates that a significant proportion of children accessing the healthcare services were exposed to the virus during the second wave of COVID-19,” one of the findings stated.
The study has also suggested targeted health education and awareness about COVID-19 appropriate behaviour. IEC should include the use of social media platforms (examples include memes, collaborating with social media influencers, etc.), cartoon advertisements and catchy jingles.