“when we had to keep him inside for like 3 months and I was at
home with him, shielding that affected him and when we first came back
to our lives and seeing other people he was really quite shy he didn’t
want to see anyone again…..that way of keeping him inside for so
long it was hard for him to get back into society and stuff like with
people again.” (mother 17)
Most frequently mentioned was the enhanced vigilance around infections
since the start of the pandemic, for example cleaning hands regularly,
deterring the child from putting items into their mouths, washing
clothes of family members who had attended outdoor activities, cleaning
groceries coming into the house. General PCD care was sometimes delayed,
routine clinic appointments postponed or conducted online, which
especially impacted children with hearing problems and speech delay. The
mother of one child reported: