ExplainerAll you need to know about Covid-19 vaccines for babies, toddlers in Hong Kong
- According to experts children are at risk of contracting the virus because they do not know how to adhere to social distancing and are not aware of personal hygiene
- Any dose is better than none before school reopens in September, respiratory medicine specialist says
The death of a 22-month-old girl in Hong Kong less than 24 hours after catching Covid-19 earlier this month, only the second child coronavirus fatality recorded in the city, made waves locally, leaving in its wake worried parents in a city that has seen most pandemic edicts scaled back.
The case prompted a quick response from health experts who recommended lowering the Covid-19 vaccination age to six months, and from the government which rolled out that policy by making the Sinovac vaccine available to children from August 4.
But with a 27-month-old boy, who was yet to be vaccinated, entering intensive care on Monday after contracting the virus and daily infections in their thousands becoming part of life in the city, the issue of how best to protect infants and toddlers from the pandemic was once again thrust into the spotlight.
The Post breaks down all you need to know about the issue to date.
1. How much risk is there to children and should parents be worried?
Experts have said the risk of transmission and infection is certainly heightened for children who are not as attuned to observing social distancing and personal hygiene as adults.