The number of new admissions started to climb in early July, similar to other age groups.
According to the CDC, the Delta variant is more than twice as contagious as other variants.
As a result, many states eased or eliminated their mask requirements.
Javier Sánchez Mingorance / EyeEm / Getty Images
There is also the issue of coinfections, Oliveira says.
However, the recent relaxation of COVID-19 interventions may have reversed this trend.
Ineligibility for Vaccination
Getting vaccinated is the best course of action to protect against severe COVID-19 disease.
Children younger than 12 years of age are not eligible for vaccination, placing them at risk.
Some were concerned about its safety and efficacy, while others believed that children dont need to get vaccinated.
Children are certainly susceptible to the virus, Oliveira says.
So, COVID-19 is definitely bad for kids.
Why COVID-19 presents differently among children and adults is still unclear.
However, there are several theories why this is the case.
Pre-existing immunity is also a likely contributor, Oliveira says.
However, since COVID-19 is a novel virus, no one has pre-existing immunity.
The key message is that if you are eligible to be vaccinated, get that vaccine today.
For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID Data Tracker.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People.
2021 July;73(Supplement_1):S110-S117.
2021;237:292-297. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.07.021
Zimmermann P, Curtis N.Why is COVID-19 less severe in children?
A review of the proposed mechanisms underlying the age-related difference in severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections.Archives of Disease in Childhood.
2021;106:429-439. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2020-320338
