COVID-19 has impacted Pierce County’s children. There’s one thing we can do to fix it
For the last 12 years, I have worked as a pediatrician in Tacoma. Partnering with parents and families to navigate the health of a child is a tremendous privilege. The stories I hear touch me deeply, and offer a glimpse into the lives of Pierce County’s children.
Looking back on the last 18 months, I feel frustrated on behalf of our children. We closed schools, playgrounds and libraries while keeping restaurants and businesses open. Children are resilient, we told ourselves. Children don’t get sick from COVID, we hoped. Children cannot transmit COVID, we presumed.
We now know these assumptions are false. The rise of the delta variant puts me and my pediatric colleagues on edge. Both in number and severity, pediatric COVID-19 cases are rising. One in four cases will now be a child. Washington has hospitalized over 800 children with COVID-19 symptoms. Nationwide, more than 500 children have died from COVID-19.
While many infected children will have asymptomatic or mild infections, that is not guaranteed. Pediatricians cannot predict which child will develop severe COVID-19 or long-haul symptoms. I feel a pit in my stomach when I reflect on this unpredictability in the setting of rising pediatric case rates. Last week, 50% of COVID-19 outbreaks in Pierce County were tied to the K12 and childcare settings. The COVID-19 virus will spread more rapidly among the unvaccinated. Children 0-11 are too young to be vaccinated, and vaccination rates in Washington for 12-17 are only around 50%. These vaccination numbers must change to prevent future outbreaks.
In addition to health risks, these outbreaks will further disrupt our children’s lives: more children being sent home to quarantine, more missed learning, more time off work for parents, less participation in after-school activities, and continued unpredictability. We already have a pediatric mental health crisis with suicide attempts in children at an all-time high. Safe, in-person learning and safe social activities are critical for our children’s well-being.
There is a single, readily available action that each of us can do today to put Pierce County’s children first. Get your COVID-19 vaccine. This selfless action will protect you, your community and our children. Vaccines significantly slow the transmission of illness, protect those who are too young to be vaccinated and will start to normalize our lives.
It is possible that there will soon be a COVID-19 vaccine approved for children 5-11. If this occurs, parents in Washington state should be reassured by the rigor and multiple layers of analysis prior to vaccine authorization:
The FDA already requested expansion of the COVID-19 pediatric trials to better identify any negative outcomes. Though this may delay approval, it heightens safety.
Pfizer submitted this expanded data for 5-11 to the FDA. Career scientists are now reviewing the data, safety and efficacy. This Vaccines and Regulated Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) will only advise the FDA to grant emergency use authorization (EUA) if the benefit of the vaccine outweighs the harm.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) at the CDC will review the EUA, hold meetings with public comment, and make recommendations to the CDC director who will make the final decision for a national recommendation.
In Washington state, we surpass the national standard with another layer of approval. Physicians and scientists from four western states will independently review safety and efficacy data for any approved COVID-19 vaccine. The Washington state representatives include two venerable pediatricians who have dedicated their careers to vaccine safety in children. Knowing these local child advocates are part of the review process should offer parents added confidence.
If a COVID-19 vaccine is approved for children 5-11 in the United States, this will occur at a time when much of the world is only beginning to vaccinate its adult population. While we advocate for global vaccine equity, we must also acknowledge that we are incredibly privileged. The vast majority of us have easy access to free COVID-19 vaccines. We will be even luckier to leverage the power of vaccines to normalize our children’s lives. Improving our COVID-19 vaccination rates and vaccinating our children from this deadly virus is the single action we all must take to prioritize children in this community. When the vaccine is approved for my daughter’s age group, I will not hesitate to get her vaccinated.
Each parent will follow a unique path as they consider the COVID-19 vaccination for their child. It is completely natural to have reservations and questions. Please reach out to your child’s pediatrician if you are uncertain. We want to help you make this decision with the best information possible.
As pediatricians, we are here for you when your child has a cold, a broken bone, anxiety attacks, or trouble sleeping, and we’re here for you now.
Harbir Juj grew up in Tacoma, and throughout her childhood she made sure to tell anybody that would listen that she was going to be a pediatrician one day. After completing her training, she happily returned to her hometown. She has practiced pediatrics in Tacoma for over twelve years, and lives just minutes from her childhood home with her husband and daughter.
This story was originally published October 8, 2021 at 5:00 AM.