SickKids experienced rise in children admitted with COVID-19 during Omicron wave
Posted March 31, 2022 4:58 pm.
Last Updated March 31, 2022 10:12 pm.
Over 80 children ineligible to be vaccinated were admitted to hospital with COVID-19 during the Omicron wave at the beginning of 2022.
The Hospital for Sick Children says, similar to other institutions, they experienced a rise in admissions between January and March but have also started to see an additional uptick as it appears a sixth wave is hitting the province.
During that time, 255 children were admitted — 96 for illnesses and ailments unrelated to COVID-19 but later tested positive. Of all the children, 186 were unvaccinated.
Currently, there is no COVID-19 vaccination for those under five.
While there was a rise in pediatric patients, most of them had only brief hospital stays and could return home quickly without critical illness.
The Head of Infectious Diseases at SickKids, Dr. Upton Allen, said this does not account for the possible long-term effects of a COVID-19 infection.
“One has to follow them over time to ensure that they don’t have long term [effects], the so-called ‘Long COVID,’ but it’s certainly during the acute phase, their illness is overwhelmingly mild.”
RELATED: Over half of children reported significant depressive symptoms during COVID-19 second wave: SickKids
Allen tells CityNews the best way to protect unvaccinated children is to “form a cocoon around them.” This means continuing to wear masks and getting a third booster shot.
“Recognizing that a mandate is not an order not to do something and so on an individual basis, I think families may choose to assess the risks and benefits and act accordingly,” Allen said, acknowledging that SickKids is watching the increase in cases carefully.
Allen anticipates there will be an upsurge in infections among kids due to the removal of the mask mandate in schools.
“The important thing is, will those increase in the numbers result in an overwhelming all healthcare system and institutions like SickKids and others, you know, across the country,” he questioned.
“We are watching that scenario very carefully to ensure that we have the capacity as it relates to emergency departments, hospital wards and the critical care units.”
“So far, there’s no evidence that the pediatric healthcare system will be overwhelmed. But it is still early days yet, and we’re watching the situation very carefully,” he added.
Allen assures parents that the province is in a better position than six months ago due to vaccinations.
“We shouldn’t drop our guards though they could still get. Fortunately, when they do get ill, it is overwhelmingly mild.”