Parents could have ‘coronavirus parties’ so kids catch it when they are young and at lower risk, expert suggests

PARENTS could let their kids play with friends who have coronavirus so they catch it when they are young and at lower risk of death, an expert has suggested.

Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter revealed he was sent to mix with sick pals as a child in the hope he would be infected with measles, mumps and chickenpox.

Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

Alamy

Now the Cambridge University statistician said parents may consider doing the same for Covid-19 if scientists are unable to develop a vaccine.

A recent review by Public Health England identified age as the biggest risk factor for coronavirus deaths.

Infected people aged 80 or older were 70 times more likely to die than those under 40, the report said.

Just two children aged five to 14 have died from Covid-19 in England and Wales, which is equivalent to one in every 3.58million in that age group.

But this jumps to one in 3,478 for adults aged 45 to 64 and one in 55 for those 90-plus.

Sir David, 66, said: “I remember this pre-vaccination era, as a kid I was sent around to go and play with friends, who had measles, mumps, chickenpox… the lot.

“I’m not suggesting this is the public health solution but if no vaccine comes along, you might think that way.”

So-called “pox parties” were popular in the pre-vaccine era when parents believed a disease was less severe in childhood or wanted to “get it over with”.

Studies show children suffer less severe coronavirus symptoms and are less likely to die from it. They are also thought to spread it less.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health says kids should not be deliberately exposed to infections.  

Government guidelines say children infected with coronavirus should be isolated with their family at home.

So far in the UK, 40,883 have died from coronavirus after 286 further deaths today.

Getty Images - Getty

Alamy