Hospitalizations and emergency room visits for children with COVID-19 were much higher in states with low vaccination rates, according to two new studies released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to one study, hospitalization rates for teens between the ages of 12 and 17 were 10 times higher in unvaccinated states compared to those with higher percentages of fully vaccinated residents, according to CDC.
Hospitalization rates associated with weekly coronavirus increased rapidly in late June to mid-August 2021 among children and adolescents, and by mid-August, the rate among children aged 0 to 4 years was nearly ten times the rate. seven weeks earlier, according to CDC, which coincided with the spread of the delta variant.
However, the proportion of young children with serious illnesses was generally similar compared to those before the pandemic.
“These studies showed that the severity of the disease in children did not increase. In contrast, there are more children with COVID-19, because there are more diseases in the community,” the CDC director said. Rochelle Walensky
Rochelle Walensky: 180 COVID-19 Cases Related to Illinois Church Camp and Conference: CDC Watch Live: The White House COVID-19 response team holds a press conference. He told reporters during a briefing on Thursday.
Another study examined national cases, emergency room visits and hospitalizations and found that in August 2021, the rate of hospitalization of children was nearly four times higher in states with the lowest overall vaccination coverage compared to with states with high global vaccination coverage.
Over a two-week period, emergency department visits and hospital admissions for children and adolescents with confirmed COVID-19 were higher in states with the lowest vaccination coverage. This number was particularly high in the southern states. In states with more coverage, visits to the COVID-19 emergency service and the rate of hospital admissions among children and adolescents were lower.
The study concluded that community-based vaccination, in coordination with testing strategies and other prevention measures, is critical to protecting pediatric populations from COVID-19 infection and serious disease.
When more activities are resumed, including face-to-face school attendance and the return of younger children to the congregation of child care centers, preventive measures are critical to reduce the incidence of severe COVID-19, according to CDC.
The agency recommends universal indoor masking to all teachers, staff members, students and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.
“What is clear from these data is that community-wide vaccination coverage protects our children,” Walensky said. “We know what we need to do to protect our children: get vaccinated, wear masks, and follow CDC guidelines. We need to come together to make sure our children and our future are safe and healthy during this time.” .