COVID-19 cases among children have drastically increased since early July. With the school year now in full swing across much of the United States, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reported on Monday a staggering rise in child COVID cases, labeling the increase as “exponential.”
In the past week alone, there were 243,373 new COVID cases reported in children, a slight decrease from the previous week’s total of 251,781. However, this still marks a 240% surge since July when cases were at 71,726. The AAP stated, “After a decline in early summer, child cases have surged with nearly 500,000 cases recorded in the last two weeks.”
As of now, only 63% of eligible Americans aged 12 and older are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health experts have been urging eligible individuals to get vaccinated to help protect younger children under 12 who cannot yet receive the vaccine.
In reassuring news, Dr. Alex Thompson, a Pfizer board member and former FDA commissioner, indicated during an interview on CBS’ Face the Nation that COVID vaccines for younger children may be available as soon as late October. “The FDA expects a decision in a matter of weeks, not months, regarding authorization for vaccines for kids ages 5 to 11,” he shared.
However, the FDA has cautioned that children under 12 should not receive the vaccine until it is officially authorized for their age group. “Children are not simply smaller adults,” the FDA stated, emphasizing that pediatric vaccine trials could reveal the need for different dosages or formulations compared to those used for adults.
Meanwhile, schools across the country are implementing varying COVID-19 precautions based on state guidelines. In states like Florida, Texas, and South Carolina, governors have actively resisted mask mandates despite the rising case numbers among children, leading to school closures due to outbreaks. For example, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently celebrated a ruling that upheld his ban on mask mandates, even as child COVID fatalities in the state reportedly doubled since summer.
Teachers in Mississippi are feeling overwhelmed, with 18,000 students testing positive in just one month. “There seems to be no discussion about prioritizing the safety of children over economic concerns,” remarked Julia Carter, a public school teacher in Jackson. “It’s incredibly troubling.”
As parents await news of vaccine approval for younger children, the hope is that the FDA will expedite the process to provide much-needed relief to families during this challenging time.
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In summary, COVID-19 cases in children have surged dramatically since July, prompting health experts to call for vaccinations among eligible populations to protect younger children. With school safety measures varying across states, the urgency for a vaccine authorized for children under 12 continues to grow.
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