25-11-2023 (SIGNAPORE) The Ministry of Health has confirmed that a 13-month-old boy has passed away due to COVID-19, with a history of severe congenital diseases prior to contracting the virus.
The Ministry of Health verified that the child had not received the COVID-19 vaccine. Due to his significant pre-existing congenital conditions, the child had been diagnosed with a poor prognosis even before contracting the virus. Prognosis refers to the assessment of possible outcomes for a patient after treatment.
The boy tested positive for COVID-19 on October 10 and was admitted to the hospital on the same day. He subsequently succumbed to acute COVID-19 infection on October 12, with congenital diseases being one of the contributing factors to his demise.
This is the first case this year of a child under the age of 12 dying from COVID-19 in Singapore. The Ministry of Health stated that in 2022, three children died from COVID-19, while there were no child fatalities reported in 2020 and 2021.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Health said, “The risk of severe COVID-19 in pediatric patients is lower compared to older individuals, but serious consequences can still occur, especially in children with underlying medical conditions who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine. We therefore encourage all individuals aged six months and above to ensure that their COVID-19 vaccination is up to date in accordance with current recommendations to maintain optimal protection.”
