The increase in the number of Covid-19 infections in children in the United States has worried local authorities. The most recent data from the American Academy of Pediatrics show an increase of 32% in cases in this age group.
According to the latest report, nearly 142,000 American children tested positive for the coronavirus between November 11th and 18th. For comparison purposes, about 107 thousand cases were registered in small two weeks before.
The new data comes at the start of a week’s vacation and a new rise in cases, worrying experts, who project an upsurge in the pandemic as the country enters the winter months.
Many families are eager to return to holiday traditions with crowded family gatherings where unvaccinated children are at risk of catching and transmitting the virus.
Also according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children accounted for just over 25% of all Covid cases in the US in the last week it analyzes, with small children accounting for about 22% of the entire population of the country.
Although children have a lower risk of developing the severe form of the disease, at least 25,000 were hospitalized and another 636 died during the pandemic, according to the AAP. Almost 6.8 million are known to have been infected since the beginning.
Health authorities continue to strongly encourage parents to vaccinate their children. Starting this month, Pfizer’s vaccine is available for children ages 5 to 11 in the US. The immunizing agent has been applied to adolescents over 12 years of age since May.
On Monday, Pfizer and BioNTech announced new clinical trial results that showed 100% effectiveness in teens 12 to 15 years old over a period of at least four months.
In Brazil, the pharmacist will ask Anvisa’s authorization to apply its vaccine to children over 5 years of age. Studies released by the company itself showed that Pfizer’s vaccine is 90% effective in this age group.
And you, have you already been vaccinated against Covid-19? Tell us in the comments below!
