Epidemic profile of COVID-19 child deaths in Sri Lanka: a retrospective nationwide analysis.

Introduction: Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child survival is crucial. Analysing COVID-19-related child deaths, even years after the pandemic, is critical for informing future pandemic preparedness and response efforts.

Methods: We conducted an analysis of all "SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 positive deaths" among children and adolescents (aged < 18 years) recorded through a purposefully designed Child Death Surveillance and Response System (CDSRS) from October 2020 to September 2022.