COVID-19 infections in children in England increased in September after the start of the school year, keeping the total number of new infections high, even as they fell among adults. This showed a large study by the Imperial College London, quoted by Reuters.
The number of people infected in the UK is currently much higher than in other Western European countries, with an average of more than 30,000 new cases a day. However, the incidence has not increased, despite the return of children to school and the spread of the disease among them. . This is due to a decrease in prevalence among other age groups.
The study found that in September the prevalence in 13- to 17-year-olds was 2.55%, and in children 5 to 12 years – 2.32%, which suggests an exponential development of the epidemic. In all other age groups that are highly vaccinated, it is below 1% and means that the prevalence is shrinking. In the age group over 55 the prevalence is stable.
While about 90% of people over the age of 18 have been vaccinated with at least one dose of COVID-19, the vaccination rate in children is much lower, and mass immunization of those aged 12-15 began in September, reminds Reuters.
“The prevalence is high and increasing in school-age children in September,” said Paul Elliott, who led the study. He added that increasing the number of vaccinated children among students “will help reduce the potential for transmission” of the virus in this age group as well.
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