Millions of American parents are partially or completely vaccinated against COVID-19. But for millions of children, that perspective is still a long way off.
While many teens 16 and older can now get vaccinated and new Pfizer data suggests their vaccine is safe and highly effective in children up to 12, we are likely to be months away from large bands of children that the sleeves are being rolled up.
“Most children are more likely not to be vaccinated until late this year or early next year,” said Steven Abelowitz, a pediatrician at Coastal Kids Pediatrics in Orange County, California. He stressed, however, that even the best assumptions are “all speculation” at the moment.
This means that parents go through some weird months when they suddenly have a lot more protection, but their children don’t. Here are some basic things to keep in mind as you navigate through the new (us new?) normal.
First, know that for kids, nothing has really changed.
It might seem quite different to be vaccinated yourself, but remember that precautions against COVID-19 for children and other unvaccinated people have not changed in recent months, Abelowitz said.
Children should still be protected by wearing face masks, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces and washing their hands, basically everything we’ve been listening to and hopefully doing over the last year. A slight change: Disease Control and Prevention Centers say 3 feet of physical distance is now enough to help prevent the spread of coronavirus in schools.
But spending time indoors with vaccinated family members is already safe.
An area where there is has there has been a shift in federal recommendations on how children can interact with fully vaccinated people outside their homes.
People who have been fully vaccinated can now spend time indoors (and unmasked) with those who have not, as long as unvaccinated individuals (in this case, children) do not have a high risk of serious complications. of COVID-19. at the CDC.
This means that if your child has a lifelong loved one who is fully vaccinated, he or she can go ahead and stay together indoors without you having to worry about them getting the virus. (Of course, no one can say there is no risk, but the risk is low, especially now that the CDC says there is enough evidence that fully vaccinated people do not transmit the virus).
All of this is probably very welcome news for many grandparents, aunts and uncles and nannies, and to the children who love them.
Its * mathematical * risk of capturing COVID-19 is lower.
To be clear: you are not vaccinated directly they affect your child’s own risk of getting COVID-19 unless you are breastfeeding, in which case there is growing evidence that breastfeeding parents transmit antibodies.
Therefore, if, for example, your children are exposed to COVID-19 at school or someone who is cough-infected in your children during a flight on a family vacation, your vaccination status will do nothing to maintain it. los sans.
That said, when parents or caregivers are vaccinated, it influences (in a more roundabout way) the children’s level of risk.
“What we’ve learned through the vast majority of epidemiological studies is that children were becoming infected through home contacts,” said David Cennimo, an expert in pediatric infectious diseases at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. “Therefore, if parents are vaccinated, they are very unlikely to take COVID home.”
“In a total mathematical equation of‘ what protection do they have? “They continued,” they are much more protected now that you have the vaccine. “
However, we are not close to the point where the herd’s immunity offers them more direct protection.
Do you want to reduce your child’s risk? Ask about the status of the vaccination.
Are you planning game dates? Thinking of family travel? Do you consider camping or extracurriculars? The same basic concepts that have guided risk-benefit analyzes during the pandemic still apply. The exterior configuration is less risky than the interior configuration. Larger spaces are better than smaller spaces. Being in a small group (or no group) is safer than being in a large group.
But one thing has changed: now you should definitely ask people about their vaccination status, which can be a tricky conversation.
“If I had a child and they went on a date to play, I’d like to know: Are the adults in this house vaccinated?” Cennimo said. “Because if they are, the likelihood of COVID in this home is much lower.”
Keep in mind that if this (something like this) feels hard to sort out, you’re not alone. There are no easy answers and parents will continue to have to make decisions that seem right to them.
Parents should also feel empowered to weigh the potential benefits of letting their children reconnect with friends or just have fun, Cennimo said. All of these are considerations to keep in mind.
“People need to think about their comfort levels and, within the guidelines provided, really value their activity at their comfort levels,” he said.