Letters

Long-lasting symptoms from COVID-19 are rare in children

Children who develop symptoms of COVID-19 typically get better after six days and the number who experience symptoms beyond four weeks is low (4.4%, 77/1,734), a large UK study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal has confirmed.

“It is reassuring that the number of children experiencing long-lasting symptoms of COVID-19 symptoms is low. Nevertheless, a small number of children do experience long illness with COVID-19, and our study validates the experiences of these children and their families.”

Professor Emma Duncan, lead and senior author of the study, King’s College London, UK

Vaccination coupled with strict adherence to preventive protocols is the most effective way to protect and control the spread of COVID-19. Through this initiative we want to ease the accessibility to the vaccine for all, including those who are unable to come forward to the vaccination centres owing to distance or physical constraints. In the initial phase, we are looking at inoculating around 20,000 and then later expand to a wider population.

Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, Founder and Chairman, Narayana Health

This is a historic milestone with ZyCoV-D, a product of Indian innovation becoming the world’s first DNA vaccine being offered for human use and supporting the world’s largest immunization drive. We are particularly happy that our vaccine will contribute to this fight against COVID-19 and enable the country to vaccinate a larger population especially in the age group of 1218 years. I would like to thank all the researchers, clinical trial investigators, volunteers and the regulators who have supported this endeavour.

Pankaj R. Patel, Chairman, Cadila Healthcare Ltd

In the wake of the pandemic, there has been a much greater adoption and demand for digital healthcare services. We, therefore, felt the need to further strengthen our digital capabilities and expand our footprint as well as services’ portfolio. In the last one and a half year, we have worked closely with all stakeholders and served millions of people in various ways across the country. The situation has not only created a favourable atmosphere for digital healthcare in India but also clearly highlighted the areas where stronger digitization strategies are required.

Meena Ganesh, Chairperson, Portea Medical

India is rightly described as the pharmacy of the world. The pharmaceutical sector is a strategic sector of India in terms of its contribution to the economy and has been the key to ensuring an uninterrupted supply of medicines during the most difficult circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. The exclusion of pharma exports from the RoDTEP scheme will adversely impact the pharma sector's competitiveness. The exclusion deprives pharmaceutical exporters of the level playing field vis-a-vis global manufacturers. This is a highly regulated sector and calls for huge capital investment for setting up manufacturing infrastructure. The industry presented the data to the RoDTEP committee for consideration. For sustaining India’s export competitiveness, RoDTEP benefits should be extended to the Pharmaceutical sector given the importance of the sector in access to affordable medicine to patients in India and around the world.

Sudarshan Jain, Secretary General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance

FOLLOW US ON...

@indiamedtoday

facebook.com/indiamedtoday

PLS ADDRESS YOUR LETTERS TO: The Editor, IndiaMedToday and mail to editorial@indiamedtoday.com Pls indicate clearly if you want to publish you views/opinions for this page.