Covid today Italy, “over 24 thousand infections in children 6-10 years in 2 months”

Children positive for Covid-19 infection are growing up. “From a comparison with the data published by the ISS on 25 August, it emerges that in just over two months, for the 6-10 year age group alone, there was an increase equal to 24,398 cases. In addition to the increase of the incidence of cases in all age groups, in particular a higher incidence is noted in the population aged under 12, currently not eligible for vaccination “. This is highlighted in a report by the Italian Society of Pediatrics (Sip) and the Association of Italian Pediatric Hospitals (Aopi) “on the implementation of the vaccination strategy in the 5-11 age group”. In Italy from the beginning of the epidemic to November 9, 2021 “, 4,818,705 confirmed cases and 132,491 deaths were diagnosed by regional reference laboratories and reported to the integrated Covid surveillance system, while in the 0-19 year old population 791,453 cases were confirmed, of which 8,451 hospitalizations, 249 intensive care hospitalizations and 36 deaths “, remember the pediatricians. In view of these data, the Italian Society of Pediatrics “shares the recent authorization by the FDA of the Covid-19 vaccine for the age group 5-11, as a further and valid tool for the prevention of infection and the spread of the virus pandemic within this segment of the population “. Furthermore “he hopes that as soon as possible the European and national regulatory bodies will be able to allow Italian children to benefit from this preventive intervention”. Child health specialists “invite families to discuss with their pediatrician for information on when and how to vaccinate their children.” Covid-19 vaccination will allow children to be able to safely resume all those activities, so important for their health and psychological well-being, suspended during the pandemic, from school to sport, to social life “, says Sip president Annamaria Staiano. “Covid has caused many indirect damage to the pediatric population, from the exponential increase in psychiatric disorders and eating behavior to the so-called covibesity. Pediatricians – he continues – want to actively participate in the immunization process and collaborate with families and institutions to stop the Covid-19. To promote correct information, the Faqs with the most frequent questions on vaccinations and other useful information to combat fake news have been published on the SIP website, as well as the communication campaign through the social channels of the scientific society. “.” Fortunately, in most cases, Covid-19 affects children more mildly than the adult population – explains Alberto Zanobini, president of Aopi – But the data we have available clearly indicate that the coronavirus infection it is not without risks even for the pediatric age. For this reason – he concludes – we believe it is appropriate to take advantage of all the opportunities that scientific research makes available to protect the little ones in the best possible way, including vaccines “.