Masking and vaccines, let's do it for the kids
This week the CDC published data showing that more than 140,000 U.S. children under age 18 lost a parent or caregiver grandparent to COVID-19 from April 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021. One out of every four U.S. COVID deaths took a parent or custodial grandparent away from a child, resulting in orphanhood or loss of a grandparent caregiver for one out of every 500 U.S. children.
This enormous loss of the parental figures who provide love and security and shape our childrens future hit minority groups hardest, with one out of 168 American Indian/Alaska Native children impacted, one of every 310 Black children, one of every 412 Hispanic children, one of every 612 Asian children, and one of every 753 White children.
These saddening statistics reveal both the disparate impacts on different racial and ethnic groups as well as the broader, long-term future consequences of our national failure to contain this epidemic. Each of these deaths, including those impacting our local residents, is tragic, preventable, and will produce inevitable long-term damage.
In Kitsap, our lowest vaccination rates are in people of childbearing age. Only 51 percent of people ages 19-34 are fully vaccinated, putting about half of our youngest children at risk of losing a parent. We know pregnant women remain at the highest risk for COVID and have a four-fold higher risk of ICU admission and 70 percent increased likelihood of death over non-pregnant women. Nationwide, only 31 percent of pregnant women are fully vaccinated. Data showing unvaccinated pregnant women are 70 times more likely to die than those who are vaccinated led the CDC to issue a strongly worded call for urgent action to accelerate vaccination for people who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/masking-and-vaccines-let-s-do-it-for-the-kids/ar-AAPzWxU
Gib Morrow, MD, MPH, is health officer for Kitsap Public Health District.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Masking and vaccines, let's do it for the kids
MustLoveBeagles
(11,563 posts)BigmanPigman
(51,430 posts)even their own. I read story after story about how the parents tell their kids NOT to wear masks, don't get them vaxxed, etc.
If they REALLY cared about kids they would be pro-choice and treat the children well once they are born too. If they REALLY cared about kids they would have done something about easy access to guns and the rampant school shootings.
If they REALLY cared about kids they would stop harassing schools and school boards over Covid.
They DO NOT CARE! They never have and never will. Just look at tRump and his spawn as the best example.