Omicron More Severe for Unvaccinated Children Than Other Strains

The omicron variant of Covid-19 has been linked to more hospitalizations, severe complications and deaths of young children than previous waves of the virus, suggesting the highly contagious strain may not be as mild as initially thought, according to a Hong Kong-based study.

Researchers from the University of Hong Kong and Princess Margaret Hospital reviewed child hospitalizations during different stages of the pandemic. They found that cases were far more severe in the omicron wave that continues to sweep throughthe city in its worst outbreak of the pandemic.

A total of 1,147 children aged 0-11 were hospitalized in Hong ...