The number of children being hospitalized with Covid-19 has soared to record highs in the U.S., a worrying trend experts believe is driven by low vaccination rates and the contagious omicron variant and could be worsened by the way the strain affects the lungs.
There are record numbers of children hospitalized.
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According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average number of children admitted to hospitals with Covid-19 each day last week was more than double that of the week before.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there were over 325,000 new Covid-19 cases in children during the week ending December 30, up from the previous week.
The rise in hospitalizations is the result of more children contracting the virus rather than omicron causing more severe disease than other variant, which is unfortunate because it means less severe disease in adults and children.
The spread of omicron could be up to three times more infectious than delta, the CDC said, and it is better able to evade protection from vaccines or previous infections.
Children are the least vaccine-munching group in the US, with 25% of children ages 5-11 and 64% of children 12 to 17 getting at least one vaccine.
The least-vaccinated group in the U.S. is not surprising to see cases and hospitalizations rise, according to a senior scholar at the Centers for Health Security.
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There is still a lot to understand about omicron and its impact on children, but it is possible that the variant can cause unique complications not present with other coronaviruses. The variant is less successful at infecting lung cells than other strains, according to recent research. It is possible that it is infectious but also a good thing in terms of disease severity. The change could mean more serious illness for children, as they are more vulnerable to respiratory problems than adults, and the outcomes can be more serious. Reports are emerging from the units of young Covid-positive children who are presenting with respiratory problems.
There is a structure called the Tangent.
According to the CDC, around 39,000 children were hospitalized for the flu in 2019. The agency estimated 10 million children had flu-like symptoms. More than 1 in 10 U.S. children have tested positive for Covid-19, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. 372 children died from the flu in 2019. The number of children who have died with Covid-19 has increased.
The quote is crucial.
The vaccine is generally spared from severe disease, so it's crucial for reducing the risk to children. The more adults are given vaccine, the less the virus poses to unvaccinated children.
The key background.
Schools are grappling with closed schools and coronavirus cases surge across all demographic. Children have a lower chance of developing severe disease from Covid-19 than adults, but can and do develop life-threatening illness. After strong early demand, the availability of vaccines has slowed down. The new variant does not seem to be persuading many vaccine holdouts to change their minds, according to a poll.
There has been a surge in the number of hospitalized U.S. children.
The number of covid hospitalizations among US children has gone up.
Breaching the barrier that protects children from Covid-19-Related Disease.
There is a record number of children hospitalized in the US.
The Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy has not changed over the past decade.
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