Hello!
I hope you all are well and safe. Much as I would like to post a blog on other topics (quick request! – please suggest a topic you would like to know more on), like in other aspects of life, covid-19 continues to be a drag. Compared to many other nations, we are lucky to have reasonably good vaccination coverage and cannot wait to resume our lives as-close-to-normalcy-as-we-can. However, there are worries if we can finally break the shackles.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus has shape shifted many times through its various mutations to infect greater number of people. Particularly worrisome is the delta variant. A month ago, the delta variant accounted for as much as 30% of new cases of covid19, today it accounts for more than 83% of covid cases. Sadly, there is a surge in covid cases in North Texas, and also including amongst others, the Dallas county. Even as restrictions are being lifted, the variant seems to have a ready host in those who remain unvaccinated. Unsurprisingly, the Dallas County Health and Human Services reported that the overwhelming majority of covid19 cases during the week of July 10 were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people.
This stresses the importance of vaccination. At the same time, there are also concerns on what this might mean for those who cannot get vaccinated, either because they have a condition that prevents them from taking the vaccine, or those who are yet not eligible for taking the vaccine – children under 12 years of age. So what about children when the schools get ready to open for the new academic year? Are they at risk to be infected by delta variant of the virus?
At the time of this blog posting, children represent about 14% of all covid19 cases in the US. Exact statistics for the State of Texas is not available since age distribution of confirmed covid19 cases has been reported for only 3% of all confirmed cases, so there is a good possibility of an undercount in case numbers of children. Data also indicates that the delta variant is the dominant variant amongst children.
The current understanding is that vaccine for children under 12 years is likely to become available by late fall / early winter, as clinical trial data in children 5-11 year is expected to become available in September. So, how to protect them until then?
1) Vaccination of as many eligible people as possible can help. Remember most of the pediatric cases being seen now are from adult exposures! So, as parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and neighbors, there is a responsibility for adults to keep children safe from infection.
2) Masking and observing pandemic hygiene in schools and during group activities can definitely reduce the spread of the virus.
Indeed, on Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics announced its position regarding masking and recommended that all children over the age 2 yrs wear mask when returning to school, regardless of vaccination status. Not only children, but also school staffs should wear masks. Calling for a "layered approach" the Chair of the AAP Council on School Health, Sonja O'Leary said, "Combining layers of protection that include vaccinations, masking and clean hands hygiene will make in-person learning safe and possible for everyone."
Defeating covid will be a community effort and we all have a responsibility to keep each other safe. Let our kids get back to school with their teachers and friends, and let us keep the variant at bay by observing good health practices.
Be well,
Dr. Vani