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The Editors1 rightly draw attention to the catastrophic effects that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have on children and younger people. This concern is entirely justifiable, as is the Editorial's call for young people to have more voice in decision making. The Editorial observes that younger people are under-represented in political leadership, implying that this contributes to their disproportionate vulnerability to the effects of COVID-19. The Editors also imply that older people are over-represented and consequently benefit from favourable policies; indeed, they urge older adults to “let go of established power structures”.1 Yet, even in evidently gerontocratic countries, health policies actively discriminate against older people. In India, for example, where the average age of national members of parliament is 57·5 years, third doses of COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out to front-line workers and will soon be available to anyone aged 15 years or older. Yet, by early January, 2022, millions of people 60 years or older were yet to receive a second or even first dose.2 Rather than between the interests of people at younger and older ages, COVID-19 responses are more subject to trade-offs between economic interests and the health of entire populations.3 It is essential to avoid simple assumptions based on age stereotypes and to foster a shared community of interest between children, older people, and everyone aged in between. © 2022 Sanjeev Verma/Hindustan Times/Getty Images2022