Across the nation, students experienced a disrupted 20-21 academic school year, as the first wave of COVID-19 infections forced school closures as a precautionary measure.
We now have vaccines, which give some immunity against COVID-19 infections. However, the emerging COVID-19 variants are more easily transmissible, highly contagious, and slightly resistant to the current vaccines. Variants present these problems for staff and students alike:
Children Are Susceptible
Early COVID-19 reports suggested that children were susceptible and were thus less likely than adults to become infected 3. However, studies that followed proved this to be untrue. Children and adolescents have the same risks as adults for COVID-19 infections, though they are more likely to present as asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic.
The Delta variant appears to cause more symptomatic infections in school-aged students (and unvaccinated adults). Previously, school outbreaks were confined because students were less likely to infect each other. However, the Delta variant results in more student-to-student and student-to-staff infections.
COVID-19 hotspots, states like Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas, have school districts experiencing a surge in positive cases in students (and subsequent quarantines after exposure), forcing them to close or delay school openings.
Children Aren’t Vaccinated
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the emergency use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents. However, vaccines have not been approved for school-aged students under 12 years. 1.
Experts also do not know how safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines are for younger children 2. Clinical trials are underway, some suggesting that children can develop overactive responses (allergy) as a side effect. Others acknowledge the potential side effects of a vaccine but feel that the benefit of protection outweighs potential risks.
Given the recent developments in COVID-19 transmission, infections, and complications, school districts should continue to prioritize the health and safety of their learning communities to keep members safe and limit disruptions in education.