How Delta variant impacts kids compared to adults

With more Aussie children contracting Covid than ever before, a startling discovery has been made about the Delta variant’s true impact.

The Covid-19 Delta strain doesn’t affect children as badly as adults, preliminary research has shown, with kids more likely to fall ill with other viruses, such as the respiratory virus RSV.

Paediatrician Professor Fiona Russell of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute said children exhibited similar flu-like symptoms to adults but few had become seriously ill, even with the Delta strain. Long Covid also affected kids less, she said.

And new data from the federal Health Department has revealed that children are being treated in hospital in relatively low numbers.

Of the 11,672 Covid cases recorded nationwide between January 1 and August 20, just 3504 were under 20.

Just 2.85 per cent of infected under-20s were treated in hospital and 0.17 per cent in ICU, compared to 17.74 per cent in hospital and 2.47 per cent in ICU for those aged 20-plus.

More children are testing postive to Covid in 2021. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute is working with the Doherty and Burnet institutes on modelling about the health impact on children.

Prof Russell said she expected childhood Covid case numbers would remain low.

“When we look at common things that there aren’t any vaccines for, such as RSV – the Respiratory Syncytial Virus – which is a respiratory virus, we see 6000 hospitalisations in Australia every year in children under five but we don’t ever see anybody worrying about that and I mean we should be and we should be getting a vaccine for that of course.’’

Australian deputy chief medical officer Professor Michael Kidd said a higher proportion of children under 16 had emerged among Covid cases compared to last year.

“This is due to the increased transmissibility of the Delta variant, the rapid spread of Covid-19 among household members, but it also reflects the protection provided by vaccination to older people, especially those aged 60 years and above,’’ Prof Kidd said.

“By age group, the proportion of people hospitalised or admitted to ICU is much lower in children aged less than 14 years, compared to older age groups.

“The data continues to show that, thankfully, our children are at much lower risk than other Australians.’’

Murdoch Institute paediatrician Dr Shidan Tosif said research had shown that children’s innate immune system had enabled them to avoid the worst effects of the virus.

Although many children are infected at home, Prof Russell said, one way to rein in infections was to make schools and childcare safer. That meant improved ventilation, cleaning and ensuring teachers were vaccinated.

“We do know that Delta is transmissible and it’s highly transmissible in every age group.’’

Prof Russell said she expected the vaccination of healthy children from age 12 to start later this year. Of the 34 Victorians reported in hospital on Tuesday, one is an infant while 22 are under 40.

Covid-19 vaccines are available for children over 12 who have other health conditions while ATAGI is considering advice on vaccinations for all Australians 12 years and older.