’Pandemic babies’ with no immunity are ending up in ICU

A “very concerning number” of children born during the pandemic are landing in ICU beacuse of the flu — and four times as many as have been made seriously ill by Covid.

Pandemic babies — born and raised in the two years where NSW had virtually no other viruses besides Covid-19 — are ending up in intensive care with respiratory illnesses.

Health authorities are alarmed by growing presentations of very young and previously healthy children to ICU as common viruses like influenza and RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) begin circulating again.

The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Infectious Diseases paediatrician Dr Philip Britton said young children were getting seriously ill “from encountering viruses they haven’t come across before”.

Dr Britton said an analysis of hospitalisations and ICU presentations across the Children’s Hospital in Westmead and Randwick showed “co-infections” where children were testing positive to Covid and RSV and Covid and the flu at the same time.

“Over the last month or so we have seen four times the admissions to hospital for flu in children as for Covid. Right now is the time to avail yourself of the vaccine,” he said.

Chief Health Office Kerry Chant. Picture: Supplied

“Of all the kids coming in, 5 per cent are going into ICU. That’s a very concerning number.”

About half of the childhood ICU presentations had no pre-existing health conditions.

Children admitted to intensive care are seeing the flu cause inflammation in their heart and brain along with chest issues Mr Britton said.

“It’s a combination of Covid and influenza and RSV and the fact that they’re all happening at the same time which is a significant challenge,” he said.

A “very concerning number” of previously healthy children are ending up in hospital from the flu. Picture: Supplied

“We are seeing co-infections. Covid and RSV, Covid and flu, occasionally, flu and RSV. There is serious pressure (on the system).

“Among that group who are previously well … It’s not just a chest infection, some of these children can be impacted with the flu affecting the heart and the brain.”

Dr Britton said that although there were effective vaccines for the flu and Covid, RSV did not have a vaccine.

“All those messages we had, hand hygiene, staying home when they are unwell. All those lessons we had back in 2020 are worth rehashing,” he sid

The concerning figures will be highlighted in the upcoming NSW epidemiology report but chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said there were “some pleasing signs” that indicated a decline in the flu season.

“We’ve seen an early start of the flu season and a rapid peak and we are seeing some signs of it going downwards,” she said.

“With overseas travel returning, measles and other vaccine preventable infections might return here. Some of the usual vaccination programs may have been disrupted in a number of countries around the world.

“What is really pleasing is there appears to be quite a good match (between the flu shot and the virus).”