Back to school? May have unimaginable, uncontrollable consequences on health

There is a growing chorus to reopen the schools amid the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as articulated in the print and electronic media by several experts. We have witnessed a tsunami of cases in the second wave and the country still has a substantial caseload. 

Given the current situation, parents are unenthusiastic about sending their children to school.  

A section of private school teachers, who have lost jobs, seem to be vociferous in advocating reopening of educational institutions. Some psychologists, physicians, who are not specialists in child health, are also behind the call to reopen.  

It is true that many children are losing social contact / skills with other children and teachers. The in-person school environment helps the children in mental and physical health. The teacher-pupil contact is efficient to grasp the subject is beyond doubt. 

All of this is correct; however, the protagonists behind reopening schools have no solutions when it comes to dealing with the health aspects in a raging pandemic.

If we look at health problems caused by COVID-19, we seem to be learning by mistakes rather than by scientific studies. 

In the United States, several states where a majority of adults were vaccinated, mask mandates were relaxed in May. In fact, there were even mask-cutting celebrations. But the cases began to spike again with the rapid spread of the new delta variant. 

The mask mandates are back in most of the states and the focus shifted to schools again. 

In India, as the cases have started declining after the second wave, our experts are jubilant that we have successfully defeated the pandemic. 

Some experts even feel that with the latest finding of 67 per cent seroprevalence, we are close to herd immunity and life as usual can be carried forth in the country. The reopening of all the sectors, especially schools, is gaining momentum. 

It is clear as of August 5, 2021 that the cases are rising uniformly in states such as Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, with the latter reporting half of the country’s daily additions.  

Yet, we do not have a clue as to why the infections are rising again. It was reported that for every single COVID-19 case registered in India, there are at least 30 unreported cases, knowingly or unknowingly.

The delta variant is reportedly several times more virulent and transmissible. One silver lining, however, is that fully vaccinated people are only being infected mildly, with very few hospitalisations and deaths.

There is a push to reopen the schools in the US and other countries, given the wide vaccination of children older than 12 years. The US Centre for Disease Control and 

Prevention has issued protocols with emphasis on ventilation systems and social distancing in schools. The teachers and staff are being encouraged and incentivised to get fully vaccinated. Daily temperature checks of all staff and students and rigorous contact tracing protocols are to be set in place. The healthcare system for children is robust, given the number of paediatricians and children’s hospitals. 

The reopening of the schools in the US seems justified with such measures in place. However, such precautionary systems do not exist in India. 

Our print media carries several reports and articles written by noted physicians calling for reopening of schools, while pointing out that there is no need to vaccinate children. Such reports are, at best, misleading. 

Indian children should be given a nasal COVID-19 vaccination when available, said one such article. But the same article stated that COVID-19 vaccination is unnecessary for students and hence, schools should reopen immediately.

The argument seems to be that over 170 countries reopened schools and adult vaccination has no impact on the rise of hospitalisations of children. This seems factually incorrect. Several states across the world are showing a rise in child hospitalisations, including Texas, Florida in the US. 

In India, trials on vaccination of children above 12 years are still ongoing. The valid data did not emerge. At least one vaccine candidate by Zydus Cadilla has received emergency use approval in the country.

In 2020 when the first surge of COVID-19 occurred, schools closed and strict public restrictions were imposed. The children were heavily shielded and therefore, infections in children were incredibly low.

The latest studies pointed to the overwhelming evidence that children are prone to COVID-19.  In the United Kigdom, the government should adopt a wait-and-watch attitude, Devi Sridhar, professor at Global Public Health, University of Edinburgh, said in a piece published in The Guardian.

If vaccinating 12+ year olds, observe the results if they are vulnerable or not if vaccinated, she added. Herd immunity can be possible only if 98 per cent of the population is vaccinated. 

In the UK, a surge of infections is being reported in children also. It may be devastating once the schools reopen. 

An important point she raised is on long COVID-19. Its effects on heart, kidney, lungs are being studied and look like a major challenge. The UK can become “a petri dish for variants", the professor warned. 

The protection of children against infections should be the topmost priority for any nation. Buzz words such as the child should have a ‘school-like atmosphere’ for the benefit of their mental and physical behaviour jump out of opinion columns and social media posts. 

But reopening schools in the middle of the pandemic is fraught with serious consequences.  

Instead of reopening schools, educationists should research how to communicate efficiently in online classes through computers or phones. 

Almost every household in India, even in rural areas, has smartphones to access welfare schemes provided by the government. Many families have televisions, despite their living conditions.

The efforts of the Telangana government to boost the educational programs with T-SAT Vidya and T-SAT Nipuna programs are highly commendable. Teaching online classes is being done in an understandable and student-friendly manner. 

Such presentations of online teaching should be emulated by other states. The services of Vidya volunteers and teachers should be enlisted to undertake trips to villages for inspecting delivery of education and quality of learning during the tough times.

One of the reasons behind the clamour to reopen the schools is that private schools are unable to collect fees and funds. Hence, they are unable to pay salaries to teachers and staff. 

This is an administrative matter which the governments should step-in to tackle. A healthy, open discussion is needed on measures / restrictions to protect children against this dangerous virus.

It is worth noting that educationists and psychologists did not turn their attention to colleges. 

The solution to reopen college and higher institutions is to completely vaccinate students and staff. We must protect our children and plan our strategies for a safe reopening of schools until then we need to improve upon the online education experience. 

Finally, we have to assess if we have enough paediatric wards and paediatricians acquainted with treatment regimen. Let children of age group 12-18 years be fully vaccinated before opening schools for them. 

Views expressed are the author’s own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Down To Earth.

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