The Daily Kids and Covid
Feb 19, 2021
Apoorva Mandavilli, a science and global health reporter for The New York Times, dives into the urgent topic of COVID-19 vaccination for children. She discusses the complexities of vaccinating kids, who often display milder symptoms yet remain essential for herd immunity. The conversation also touches on parental hesitance regarding vaccines, the timeline for immunization, and the implications for school reopenings. Mandavilli emphasizes the need for safe public health strategies to protect unvaccinated children and navigate a cautious return to normalcy.
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Child Vaccination Importance
- Vaccinating children is crucial for achieving herd immunity, as they constitute 24% of the US population.
- Even with widespread adult vaccination, a significant portion remains unprotected.
Kids and COVID-19 Severity
- Children, especially those under 10, have milder COVID-19 symptoms and lower infection rates compared to adults.
- Prioritizing adult vaccination addresses severe illness and hospital overload.
Child Transmission Rates
- Younger children transmit the virus less efficiently than adults, potentially half as much or less.
- Teenagers, however, transmit similarly to adults, possibly due to social habits.
