Will Canada’s COVID-19 babies face “immunization debt”? This is what the experts say-National

For Leeanna Palumbo, maternity leave during the global pandemic is hidden and stays at home most of the time.

“I only leave my bubbles to my parents and my in-laws,” the first mother in Burlington, Ontario told Global News, explaining that only these people can see her now 8 months old. Veda. “Unless it is outside, we won’t let anyone see or touch her.”

Like many people, living within Ontario’s strict lockdown guidelines is a challenge for new mothers.

“However, based on my experience, I would say that the most difficult part is not being able to share it with others,” Palumbo said.

But as the world reopens, doctors say that parents, especially babies born during the pandemic, will face a new challenge-immune debt.

Immune debt refers to the lack of immune stimulation due to reduced exposure to viruses, bacteria and bacteria. Coronavirus disease Security and lockdown measures.

“Due to the entire COVID lockdown, the children are deprived of immunity and their microbes are messed up. So their immune system is a little messed up,” explains Brett Finlay, a professor of microbiology at the University of British Columbia.

On a global scale, New Zealand has achieved success through a strict pandemic lockdown. The country has already felt the effects of this phenomenon in hospitals. Respiratory syncytial virus, called RSVAlthough very common, this virus can make young children very sick and can be fatal.

According to Wellington epidemiologist Michael Baker, New Zealand has reported more than 1,000 RSV cases in the past five weeks. The usual average for the entire winter is more than 1,700 cases.

“This year, we saw a rebound in some infections. Last year we suppressed these infections very effectively, which is also the most serious infection. An example of tagging is RSV,” Baker said. “It does have some negative effects. One of them is… (increased infection) will put more pressure on our pediatric ward than normal. “

He explained that this peak does not necessarily mean that there will be more RSV cases in the country as a whole, but that these cases are outbreaks at the same time.

Baker warned that Canadian parents should not be surprised to see similar trends.

“Countries that have taken very successful measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 in their communities will see these effects,” he said.

Finlay agreed.

“I think we will see a surge in children (RSV) in the next year or so,” he said. “I think the hospital is preparing for the influx of RSV patients.”

Baker said that premature babies are at the greatest risk.

“RSV is a serious disease of young children, especially those who have other underlying diseases or are born prematurely and have poor lung development… But it is completely different from the severity of COVID-19 or even the flu, which is a huge killer. “He says.

Baker also pointed out that although countries may see a rebound of these infections within a year or two, he believes that having not been exposed to these infections will “in any way hinder the development of a healthy immune system.”

but Based on a recent paper written by a group of French doctors, The longer these low exposures to viruses or bacteria, the greater the likelihood of future epidemics. They say this is due to the increasing proportion of “susceptible” people and the decline in herd immunity in the population.

Finlay is also worried that as people re-take COVID-19 safety measures, seasonal flu may make a comeback.

“This is just part of the game,” he said. “If you didn’t get it (previously), then you will get it now.”

Finlay said the best practice is to allow parents to continue to maintain proper hygiene habits, such as washing hands, coughing with elbows, and even continuing to wear masks.

“(With) SARS, everyone is holding their sleeves and coughing. We are seeing all other respiratory diseases really decreasing,” he said.

All the experts who spoke to Global News said that keeping abreast of your child’s vaccination status is also the key to preventing serious diseases such as measles.

In autumn, Palumbo said that Veda would go to daycare.

“I’m a little afraid that she might be infected at the same time or what, and what I know is important to her,” she said, confident in her caregiver plan to minimize transmission between children.

“My daycare operator, she has a zero sick leave policy. Therefore, if the child is sick, they can’t go to the nursery at all.”

She said she was prepared for any colds that Veda might have-but still the biggest concern is COVID-19.

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