In a recent discussion, a leading figure at the FDA expressed deep concern over the rising COVID-19 cases among children and the tragic number of fatalities resulting from the virus. Dr. Peter Marks stated that the current situation is a national disgrace, especially in a developed nation. He highlighted the alarming hospitalization rates among children, particularly in southern states, and lamented the loss of lives that could have been prevented through vaccination.
“In this latest wave of Covid-19, we have witnessed thousands of children hospitalized. To see over 100 children die from a preventable infectious disease is frankly an embarrassment,” Dr. Marks remarked during a town hall meeting organized by the Covid-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project. The official figure he referenced is significantly lower than the reality, with the CDC reporting over 540 child deaths due to COVID-19, as noted by the Washington Post.
Dr. Diego Martinez, a pediatrician from Memphis, emphasized the urgency of the situation: “This number should be zero. As a community, we are failing to protect our children.” Unfortunately, the trend of child COVID deaths is expected to rise, with tens of thousands of children continuing to contract the virus weekly. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently reported around 175,000 pediatric COVID cases for the week ending September 30, indicating that children now represent approximately a quarter of all U.S. COVID-19 cases.
Currently, only children aged 12 and older are eligible for vaccination. However, the AAP notes that only about half of this age group has started their vaccinations, marking the lowest uptake among any demographic. Vaccines for younger children, ages 5 and up, may receive authorization soon, but for these vaccines to make a meaningful impact, parents must ensure their children are vaccinated. Dr. Marks urged parents to consider the safety and efficacy of the vaccine: “No parent should have to lose their child to a vaccine-preventable illness if we have a vaccine that can be safely deployed.”
As vaccine availability expands, some states like California are implementing mandates requiring students attending in-person classes to be vaccinated, similar to existing requirements for measles, mumps, and rubella vaccinations. Governor Gavin Newsom reinforced this decision, stating, “Vaccines work.”
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Summary:
Dr. Peter Marks of the FDA voiced strong concerns over the high rates of COVID-19 cases and fatalities among children in the U.S., calling the situation an embarrassment for a developed country. With thousands of children infected and hospitalized, he stressed the importance of vaccination to prevent further loss of life. Only half of eligible children have received the vaccine, prompting calls for increased action from parents and mandates in some states.
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