Protecting children in low-income and middle-income countries from COVID-19
Salahuddin Ahmed, Tisungane Mvalo, Samuel Akech, Ambrose Agweyu, K. Scott Baker, Naor Bar‐Zeev, Harry Campbell, William Checkley, Mohammod Jobayer Chisti, Tim Colbourn, Steve Cunningham, Trevor Duke, Mike English, Adegoke G. Falade, Nicholas Fancourt, Amy Sarah Ginsburg, Hamish Graham, Diane Gray, Madhu Gupta, Laura L. Hammitt, Anneke C. Hesseling, Shubhada Hooli, Abdul Wahab B.R. Johnson, Carina King, Miles A. Kirby, Claudio F. Lanata, Norman Lufesi, Grant Mackenzie, John P. McCracken, Peter P. Moschovis, Harish Nair, Osawaru Oviawe, William Pomat, Mathuram Santosham, James A. Seddon, Lineo Thahane, Brian Wahl, Marieke M. van der Zalm, Charl Verwey, Lay‐Myint Yoshida, Heather J. Zar, Stephen R. C. Howie, Eric D. McCollum
Abstract
A saving grace of the COVID-19 pandemic in high-income and upper middle-income countries has been the relative sparing of children. As the disease spreads across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), long-standing system vulnerabilities may tragically manifest, and we worry that children will be increasingly impacted, both directly and indirectly. Drawing on our shared child pneumonia experience globally, we highlight these potential impacts on children in LMICs and propose actions for a collective response.