(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Health systems across the country are reporting a surge in COVID cases of the delta variant variety, particularly among children.
“And a significant increase in the number of those children that have required hospitalization,” adds Dr. Tina Tan, a pediatric infectious disease attending physician at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.
While the rise in COVID cases is cause for concern as students return to in-person learning, Dr. Tan says there are ways to keep kids safe at school.
The best way to protect kids against COVID-19, she says, is for everyone who can get vaccinated to do so.
“We know that kids under 12 years of age are not eligible for vaccine,” Tan said. “So, right there, you already have a fairly large cohort of kids that aren't vaccinated, and they're going to rely on people around them to be vaccinated.
“We know that these vaccines are safe and effective, and it's the best way to protect your child against getting COVID-19.”
Other mitigation protocols such as mask mandates and social distancing are also key to keeping kids safe in a school setting, she said.
Without precautions, it’s possible the number of new cases will continue to climb and students will be forced back into remote learning.
“One of the problems is that as this virus is allowed to spread from person to person, there's an increased risk that it's going to mutate again,” the physician said. “And we're going to get the emergence of another variant that may be worse than the Delta variant.”
Nationwide, only about 30% of eligible children between the ages of 12 and 15 are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Roughly 60% of those aged 16, 17 and 18 are fully vaccinated.
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