Children were nearly four times more likely to be hospitalized during the increase in cases of the Omicron variant, compared to infections caused by Delta, according to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The report looked at hospitalization records in the United States from the time Delta was the dominant variant and when Omicron was dominant.
The study found that during Omicron peak week, 7.1 children per 100,000 were hospitalized each week with Covid-19-related complications compared with 1.8 per 100,000 during the Delta variant week.
Should children be vaccinated? Since the adoption of Covid-19 vaccines, there has been a debate about vaccinating children who do not have underlying medical problems as the chances of them having more severe symptoms are quite low and some have argued that this should be compared to the side effects of possible vaccine.
In Europe, the European Medicines Agency authorized vaccines for children aged 5-11 in November and distribution began in December. Many countries in Europe have vaccinated children of this age group, while other countries have been more reluctant and have not launched vaccination campaigns for children.
