The top stories trending this morning.
At Home: RSV outbreak is spreading in children more than Covid
The current RSV outbreak in Ireland is reportedly more contagious amongst children than Covid-19.
GP Dr Illona Duffy told Newstalk, “We’re seeing this as being much more contagious, even than COVID.”
“I think that’s to be expected: if you’ve one child in your house who’s sick and suddenly everybody’s sick, you know this is more likely to be viral because bacteria don’t spread as quickly.”
RSV is a respiratory virus that affects most children before the age of 2.
You can read more about it here.
Teachers’ union calls for return of contract tracing
The Irish National Teachers Organisation believes Covid measures should be re-introduced in schools as cases continue to rise.
The union has called for the return of contact tracing, testing, and risk assessment.
Children who are close contacts of a confirmed Covid case do not have to self-isolate if they are symptom-free.
It comes after a school in Wexford was forced to close until after midterm break due to a major outbreak of Covid-19.
Up to 30 pupils tested positive in the Co. Wexford primary school.
Irish families not sending kids to school because they can’t afford lunch
Parents are not sending their children to school because they cannot afford lunches, a charity has discovered.
According to Carrickmacross Food Bank, there has been an increase in Irish families struggling to buy food for their children.
One parent revealed they kept their children at home because they had no lunch for them.
They told The Mirror, “There were weeks where I could pay the bills but would not have money left over so I could not buy bread or fruit for their school lunches. So I did not send them to school then. I was too shy to ask for help at the time.”
World News: EU considering the use of Pfizer vaccine in children under 12
The EU is evaluating the use of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine on children aged between 5 and 11.
The European Union’s medicines regulator said a review is now underway to see if the data supplied by Pfizer meets their required standard of safety.
Children don’t tend to suffer severely from Covid-19, however, vaccination will help prevent the spread and severity of the disease.
Pfizer’s latest date has found that the vaccine produces a strong immune response in children aged between 5 and 11, just like it does for people aged 12 and older.
Pfizer stressed that their trials have found that the vaccine is safe and effective for children.
Celebrity: Jamie Redknapp marries Frida Andersson in a low-key London ceremony
BREAKING: Jamie Redknapp is married! Football star and pregnant Frida tie knot at secret weddinghttps://t.co/WbtRxOOlQb pic.twitter.com/dXb83LhaaO
— Express Celebrity 💫 (@expressceleb) October 18, 2021
Sportsman Jamie Redknapp has married Frida Andersson in a low-key ceremony in London.
The couple tied the knot in a registry office on Monday afternoon.
They were joined by Jamie’s father Harry Redknapp and his wife Sandra.
Jamie’s sons and his brother also attended the ceremony.
The footballer’s marriage to Frida comes four years after he split up with his wife Louise Redknapp. They were married for 20 years.
He has been in a relationship with Frida since 2019.
Frida is already a mum to four children from her marriage to American hedge fund manager Jonathan Lourie.
