London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

'Omicron is not mild ' in study focusing on children's toll

'Omicron is not mild ' in study focusing on children's toll

The Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus has been linked to more hospitalizations, severe complications and deaths of young children than previous strains of the virus, suggesting Omicron may not be as mild as initially thought, according to a study conducted by the University of Hong Kong and Princess Margaret Hospital.
Upon reviewing data on child hospitalizations, researchers found that cases were far more severe during Hong Kong's Omicron-fueled fifth wave.

A total of 1,147 children aged 11 and under were hospitalized due to Covid from February 5 to 28, with more than 80 percent of them aged five and under.

Omicron presented a greater need for intensive care, with 21 children - or 1.83 percent - admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit compared with only one in all of the city's previous outbreaks combined.

During the 22 months from the start of 2020 to November, 737 children aged 11 and under were hospitalized due to Covid - a far cry from the figures logged up during the fifth wave.

Omicron results in a higher number of seizures among unvaccinated children and targets the upper airways more than previous variants and influenza, researchers said in a preprint paper submitted to The Lancet on March 21.

"The intrinsic severity of Omicron BA.2 is not mild as evident by the fatality and severe complications among uninfected and unvaccinated children."

After a long run of keeping infection rates among the lowest in the world, Hong Kong was overrun with Omicron, which has been linked to some 7,500 deaths. The majority of the deaths were among elderly and unvaccinated residents.

One reason why some children are experiencing severe symptoms could be due to a lack of exposure to the coronavirus over the past two years, researchers said, adding children under 11 were only approved for vaccinations in February while those under three still aren't eligible.

"Vaccination should be rapidly implemented for children who are eligible, in particular for those under three years old," researchers said.

Among the 1,147 child-hospitalization cases, four died,including threewithout preexisting health concerns. Significantly, none of the three were vaccinated against the virus.

The fatality rate of Omicron during the February stage of the study was 0.35 percent for hospitalized children, higher than influenza at 0.05 percent. However, researchers conceded the figure is likely an overestimate because many children with mild symptoms were cared for at home.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×