According to media reports, parents whose children have contracted Covid have been denied hospitalization. Health officials expressed concern and asked all hospitals to give priority to sick children and then contact the Ministry of Health Services for help from its network.
Medical Services Director Somsak Akksilp said he thought the number of children infected with Covid would increase because children aged 11 and under had not yet been vaccinated. He added that a liquid form of the drug favipiravir is being proposed given the increased number of pediatric patients.
In addition, hospitals are encouraged to admit children with children and then seek assistance from the health services network so that parents do not have to travel to a care facility with sufficient beds.
Children under the age of one should see a doctor if they test positive, Dr. Somsak said. All hospitals have pediatricians to determine if children with Covid need to be hospitalized. Not all pediatric patients require hospitalization, Dr. Somsak said. In fact, only seven pediatric patients currently have severe symptoms of COVID-19.
According to the director general, the Bangkok city government has been asked to prepare an area for children in each community quarantine center. 100 beds are being prepared for critical Covid children in Bangkok.