IMA rings bell around COVID variant Omicron; appeals schools, colleges to follow protocols

IMA has demanded the Government of India to be proactively involved in PG admission and ensure admissions without further delay

At a time when cases of COViD-19 is increasing rapidly due to Omicron, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has appealed to all the schools and colleges to strictly adhere to the Covid protocol and ensure all the adults in the school's milieu to be vaccinated properly.

IMA has also demanded that the governments should expedite the proposal for vaccination of children in the age group 12 – 18 years at the earliest. “It is also noted that with Omicron in most of the African Countries there is a sudden increase in children who are getting more infected and admitted to Intensive Care Units. This possibility of enhancing infection in the Paediatric age group is also inevitable,” stated IMA issuing a statement.

The new variant of concern Omicron covid virus is spreading across and percolated to more than 40 countries across the world starting from South Africa. India is seeing exponential raise of Omicron cases in double digits within a week's time. All the major States have now confirmed the presence of cases, and it will bound to increase further.
With the scientific evidence available and the experience noted in countries of origin like South Africa, Germany, Tanzania, etc. it is evident that the new virus Omicron will have high Penetrability and will affect more people. At this time when India is limping back to normalcy, this is a great setback and concern. If we are not taking adequate measures of preventing transmissibility, we may enter into a massive third wave.
IMA has appealed to everyone concerned to take the vaccination as priority agenda and focus attention to reach all the unreached and also ensuring the 2nd doze is given to all the needy people who are yet to get it.

Children at High Risk of Omicron

It is also noted that with Omicron in most of the African Countries there is a sudden increase in children who are getting more infected and admitted to Intensive Care Units.
This possibility of enhancing infection in the Paediatric age group is also inevitable, hence IMA has appealed to all the schools and colleges to strictly adhere to the covid protocol and ensure all the adults in the school's milieu to be vaccinated properly.

IMA also demands Governments should expedite the proposal for vaccination of children about 12 – 18 years at the earliest. Thanks to the Government of India and the Ministry of Health, India is ahead in its efforts of preparedness to face the third wave with adequate infrastructure development, treatment protocol, and proactive measures.

Manpower shortage

However, IMA has also raised its concern about the manpower shortage in the health care scenario especially with the impending third wave and it is disastrous to note the postponement of NEET PG admission in medical colleges. This will be resulting in a shortage of almost two batches of Post Graduates, one appearing for the exam and one batch waiting for admission resulting in nearly one lakh of the young resident doctors not being available to tackle the crises.

IMA demands to Government of India to proactively involve in this issue of PG admission and ensure without further delay, the PG admission should be done on a war footing. IMA states: “It will be too late if we postpone the PG admission to tackle the Covid crisis. We appeal to the public and all concerned that do not get panic and distress but be cautious in adopting the appropriate covid behaviours.”

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