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Did you know that nearly 500 children have died since the Covid-19 pandemic began in the US?
It seems a small number compared to the thousands of adults who have died. Still, if we consider that since the pandemic's beginning, the doctors and scientists informed that children were much less prone to complications, that number no longer seems negligible.
In addition to this, children, even if they have the virus asymptomatically, are carriers of it and can continue to infect other children and adults.
With the opening of schools last May in Los Angeles, even with all the restrictions and measures imposed, there was an outbreak of the virus, including lactating women and lactating children, which accelerated the new vaccination process for children between 5 to 11 years old.
Current Perspective
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) examined hospitalization rates in 99 counties in 14 states and found that children's hospitalization rate for COVID-19 had increased fivefold in approximately seven weeks this summer. For the youngest patients, those under the age of 4, hospitalization rates increased by a factor of 10.
In the coming weeks, federal authorities plan to examine that smaller doses are available for the country's 28 million children ages 5 to 11.
According to a publication made by Los Angeles Times, California became last Friday, October 1, the first state in the United States to require the vaccine against covid-19 for students 12 years and older. So the same could happen with 5 to 11-year-olds very soon.
Does this go against the right to education if the child is not vaccinated? Parents have many questions about this since they are obviously concerned about their children's health, Covid-19, and the vaccines' possible side effects.
Once the order goes into effect, students will not be able to attend classes in person on campus without being vaccinated. FDA.
Parental concerns and reactions
1. Will unvaccinated children be denied education?
No. Newsom clarified that students not vaccinated against COVID-19 would have the option of enrolling in a school entirely online, attending independent study programs, or receiving homeschooling.
2. Will it be mandatory for children with special health conditions or religious reasons?
No, medical and religious exemptions are available, and, like the last question, unvaccinated students will have the option of taking classes online.
3. Would they comply with the vaccination order immediately?
According to Telemundo's questions, many parents prefer to wait to see if it causes any side effects before vaccinating their children.
The Nemours Foundation also clarified some doubts for us.
4. Is the vaccine safe for children?
All the studies done on children show that COVID-19 vaccines are very safe. Vaccines go through strict tests before the population can use them.
5. What side effects can COVID-19 vaccines cause?
Like many other vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines can cause mild side effects, such as arm pain, body aches, headache, fever, or tiredness for a day or two.
6. Is it safe for someone to get the COVID-19 vaccine if they have already had COVID-19?
Yes, a person can and should receive a vaccine even if they have had COVID-19. There are no known risks of receiving the vaccine after being infected with the coronavirus virus. Because we do not know how long a person's immunity lasts after being infected with the virus, it is also essential to get vaccinated.
Children's Hospital Los Angeles also clarified essential questions in this regard.
7. Can children with allergies or asthma be vaccinated?
Children with asthma can get vaccinated. In fact, it is recommended that they get vaccinated because it can prevent complications from a COVID-19 infection. Children who have a severe allergic reaction to the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or one of the ingredients in the vaccine should not receive it.
8. Does the COVID-19 vaccine conflict with any other vaccines my children still need to receive?
The COVID-19 vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines in the routine vaccination schedule. Your children must keep all their immunizations up to date.
9. Why is it important to continue protecting children from the new coronavirus?
Although children who contract COVID-19 tend to have a less severe illness than adults, some children contract a severe disease and end up on artificial respirators. And some children die for it.
I do think we need it as a tool in our armamentarium for high-risk children, for equity issues, for parents who really would like to protect their children, and because of the long term, very profound implications of schools being disrupted," Dr. Mark Sawyer.
Regardless of the doubts that many parents have, others agree on vaccination for younger children; they are anxious for the process to begin.
Federal authorities scheduled a meeting on November 2 and 3 to define the options for this new process, which would include 28 million children throughout the country. After the FDA and the CDC approved the new method, it will distribute the vaccines nationwide.
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