Higher Covid-19 Vaccination Rates Could Prevent Thousands of Pediatric Hospitalizations
An analysis published by the Commonwealth Fund and the Yale School of Public Health reveals that higher Covid-19 vaccination rates among US children could prevent thousands of pediatric hospitalizations and millions of missed school days.
Source: media.cnn.com
According to the analysis, if school-age children were vaccinated with the updated Covid-19 booster shot at the same rate that they were vaccinated against flu last season – between 50% and 60% coverage – at least 38,000 pediatric hospitalizations could be averted, including about 9,000 stays in intensive care units, through March. And if Covid-19 booster coverage reached 80% among school-age children by the end of the year, more than 50,000 hospitalizations could be averted.
The study highlights the importance of increasing Covid-19 vaccination rates among children, as the current uptake remains low. Less than 5% of school-age children have received the updated booster shot, according to CDC data. To reach 50% coverage by the end of the year, the pace of vaccination would have to be at least 10 times faster than it’s been in November.
Flu Season Hits Hard, Overwhelming Pediatric Hospitals
Flu season is already hitting hard across half of the US, and children’s hospitals are still feeling the pressure from respiratory illnesses. The overwhelmed health system means some families may not be able to get the care their child requires for a medical emergency, according to Dr. Moira Szilagyi, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The situation is dire, with fewer than 1 in 4 pediatric hospital beds available nationwide, including fewer than 10% of beds in seven states, according to data from the US Department of Health and Human Services. The crisis is further exacerbated by the fact that Covid-19 transmission is significantly lower now than earlier in the year, but more than 2,400 children were admitted to the hospital with Covid-19 last week – nearly three times higher than the week before, CDC data shows.
Higher Vaccination Rates Could Keep Kids in School
The analysis also found that higher vaccination rates could help keep kids in school, a benefit that other research has found could have important effects on mental health and academic achievement. Assuming a five-day isolation period for children with mild illness and 10 days for those who are hospitalized or otherwise severely ill, bringing Covid-19 booster uptake in line with flu shots for children could prevent more than 22 million days of school absenteeism.
However, the scenarios presented in the new analysis are quite unrealistic, and the cost of inaction could be steep: millions more days of school absenteeism and thousands of preventable hospitalizations for children. The study authors emphasize the need for accelerated vaccination campaigns that achieve high coverage across all ages to prevent a possible imminent surge in Covid-19.
Current Covid-19 Vaccination Rates Among Children Lag Behind Adults
Covid-19 vaccination rates among children have long lagged behind those for adults. Just 32% of children ages 5 to 11 and 61% of those ages 12 to 17 have completed their initial series of Covid-19 vaccination, compared with 78% of adults. The researchers did not factor in the possibility of a new immune-evasive coronavirus variant but did account for both naturally acquired and vaccine-induced immunity that would wane over time.
