Kuala Lumpur: Due to highly infectious Delta variant evading immunity, children could be at great risk through the reopening of schools scheduled in September, according to a think-tank groupEMIR Research Head of Science and Technology, Ahmad Ameen Mohd Kamal, said the independent think-tank had suggested earlier that the very minimum indicator to reopen schools should be when all adults have been vaccinated, which has been targeted by October.“Even so, it must be noted that this suggestion was based on the previous assumption that younger age groups are less likely to exhibit severe symptoms, and that the fully-vaccinated are most of the time protected.
“However, new variants such as Delta and recent breakthrough cases may prove that this is not the case and we could be putting children (and adults they are exposed to) at great risk through the premature reopening of schools,” he said in the research house’s article titled ‘Very Risky to Reopen Schools in September’.
Making up nearly 30 per cent of Malaysia’s population, Ahmad Ameen said those under 18 years old were the biggest unprotected group.
“Sooner or later, they have to be protected from the virus – either through vaccination or through natural immunity. Either way, it is too soon to gamble their fate,” he said.
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