Avoid antivirals for children less than 18 years,Govt

Government has revised comprehensive guidelines for the management of COVID-19 in Children and Adolescents. The health ministry has recommended not to use antivirals or monoclonal antibodies for children less than 18 years of age irrespective of the severity of infection. It is also recommended that anticoagulants should not be used on regular basis.The guidelines state that self-medication of steroids must be avoided and use of steroids are harmful in asymptomatic and mild cases of Covid-19. It further added that steroids must be given in hospitalized and critically-ill Covid-19 cases under strict supervision. It said, steroids should be used at the right time in the right dose and for the right duration. The guidelines mentioned that children with asymptomatic infection or mild disease should receive routine child care and eligible children should be administered appropriate vaccination.

Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Ministry has said that all Covid vaccination including precautionary dose should be deferred by three months after recovery from coronavirus infection in case of an individual having lab test proven Covid-19 illness. Covid-19 vaccination of children aged 15 to 18 years started from 3rd of this month. Administration of precautionary dose for health care workers, front line workers, and person aged above 60 with comorbidities started from 10th of this month under nationwide vaccination drive.