Recently, I picked up my children from an outdoor birthday celebration where they enjoyed some fun while practicing social distancing. The gathering included nine kids in a friend’s backyard, all energetically playing yet maintaining a safe distance and wearing masks. Snacks were individually packaged, hand sanitizer was readily available, and seating was spaced out. We have several friends who are immunocompromised; even though many adults are vaccinated, kids still remain unvaccinated, necessitating these precautions.
During the ride home, my son asked when children would be able to get their vaccines. He was aware that I had received my first dose and felt a pang of “vaccine envy” — a feeling many kids can relate to after enduring over a year of restrictions. While they had a good time at the party, it was far from the carefree gatherings they used to enjoy. They’re eager to return to normal activities, like hugging friends and sharing cupcakes without worrying about spacing.
It seems unjust to them that adults are getting vaccinated while they continue to face isolation, even though they understand the reasoning behind prioritizing older populations for vaccinations.
Pfizer kicked off trials for kids aged 12-17 in July 2020 and has recently begun testing for younger children ages 6 months to 11 years. Moderna, after some delays in recruiting participants, started trials for kids under 12 in mid-March.
What Experts Recommend
Health experts emphasize that unvaccinated children and teens should continue following all previous safety protocols, including wearing masks, maintaining social distance, and practicing good hygiene. Sean O’Leary, vice chair of the Committee on Infectious Diseases for the American Academy of Pediatrics, noted that while younger children may be less likely to contract or transmit COVID-19 compared to older children and adults, they are not entirely risk-free. The disease is not benign in children, he warned.
Community transmission remains a significant concern. Even if adults in a household are vaccinated, children mingling at various gatherings could potentially spread the virus to others. While it’s less common for kids to experience severe illness from COVID-19, it can still happen, and some may develop long-term health issues. With the imminent availability of vaccines for children, now is not the time to disregard safety measures.
The CDC states that fully vaccinated adults can gather without masks; however, in gatherings with unvaccinated family members, including children, masks and social distancing are still recommended. Experts agree that small outdoor gatherings with a few friends can be done safely, as shown by the recent birthday party my kids attended. Large indoor events should still be avoided, and it’s crucial to ensure that the families involved practice safety measures.
If you’re considering sleepaway camp for your child this summer, verify that the camp has strict quarantine guidelines. A camp in Georgia that didn’t enforce mask-wearing for kids experienced an outbreak, while a camp in Maine that required testing and quarantine successfully prevented an outbreak among its campers.
We are making progress. Every vaccinated individual contributes to a collective immunity that protects everyone. As we draw closer to herd immunity, it’s essential to continue following CDC guidelines to end the pandemic once and for all.
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Summary
As adults receive COVID-19 vaccines, children still face restrictions due to their unvaccinated status. Despite some progress in vaccine trials for kids, experts stress the importance of maintaining safety measures to prevent virus transmission. Small outdoor gatherings with precautions are encouraged, while larger events should be avoided. Parents should verify safety protocols at camps and continue to follow CDC guidelines to ensure everyone’s health.