A devastating news afloats on the internet as Covid-19 becomes the 8th leading cause of death among children in the US. A recent study shows that despite children being less likely to die from Covid-19 than any other age group, the virus still has a significant impact on the youngest among us. In fact, during a 12-month period from August 2021 to July 2022, there were 821 Covid-19 deaths in children ages 0 to 19, ranking 8th compared to the leading causes of death in 2019.
It’s heartbreaking to think about the tragedy of losing a child and Dr. Sean O’Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Infectious Diseases, echoes this sentiment. He states, “Pediatric deaths are rare by any measure, it’s a tragedy in a unique way, a really profound event.”
Vaccination is the best option to protect children from Covid-19 and the benefits outweigh any potential risks. Unfortunately, children are less vaccinated against the virus than any other age group in the US. The CDC data shows that less than 10% of eligible children have gotten their updated booster shot and over 90% of children under 5 are unvaccinated.
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Dr. O’Leary stresses the need for immunization programmes for kids and remarks, “If we looked at all those other top causes of mortality and thought, ‘Gosh, if there was some easy, safe thing we could do to get rid of one of those, wouldn’t we simply jump at it?’ Additionally, we have Covid’s vaccinations.”
The researchers claim that intervention strategies like immunization and ventilation will be essential in controlling transmission and averting severe illness as Covid-19 spreads throughout the US. Let’s do our part and make sure our children are protected.
According to the study, children with underlying health conditions, such as asthma and diabetes, have a higher risk of severe illness and death from Covid-19. The researchers are urging families to take the necessary precautions, including wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and getting vaccinated.
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Moreover, the findings of the study also highlight the need for increased access to vaccines for children, especially for those living in underserved and marginalized communities. The researchers call for a more comprehensive and inclusive vaccination strategy to address the disparities in vaccine access and ensure equitable protection against Covid-19 for all children.
The study also emphasizes the importance of ongoing research to better understand the effects of Covid-19 on children, especially in terms of long-term impacts on their health and development. The researchers hope that their findings will help raise awareness about the dangers of Covid-19 for children and the importance of protecting them through vaccination and other measures.
Covid-19 is a serious threat to the health and wellbeing of children, and the new study underscores the importance of taking swift action to protect them. The researchers urge families and policymakers to take the necessary steps to ensure that all children have access to vaccines and are protected against this devastating disease.
