Friday Morning Medical Update: Kids and COVID Vaccines Plus: Answering Community Questions

The University of Kansas Health System reports another decrease in the numbers of COVID patients today. 32 with the active virus are being treated, down from 35 yesterday. Only five of them are vaccinated. 11 patients are in the ICU, down from 13 yesterday, but none are vaccinated. Nine are on ventilators, the same as yesterday, also none vaccinated. 38 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, up from 37 yesterday. That’s a total of 70 patients, down from 72 yesterday
On today’s Morning Medical Update, we took a closer look at kids and COVID and when the vaccine might be available for them. Also, a surprising survey about whether parents will get their children vaccinated when it’s available. We also answered community questions we didn’t have time for earlier this week.
Joining Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas Health System was Dr. Amol Purandare {pooh-run-the-ray}, Infectious Diseases physician at Children's Mercy. He says children now account for one in five new cases of COVID, with 14 hospitalized at Children’s Mercy. His hospital was involved in the clinical trial of a vaccine for kids, and he expects it will be available in the next couple of months after the FDA examines the data. The doctors reacted to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey of parents showing only 26 percent will take their children to be vaccinated as soon as it’s available. 40 percent will wait and see how it’s working, nine percent will only get the vaccine for their kids if it’s required and 25 percent will not get their children vaccinated. Dr. Purandare was surprised, and said, “You would think with everything going on we would expect a lot of families to jump to get the vaccine.” He believes that hesitancy doesn’t make sense as the vaccine for kids, which is about a third the dose of adults, has proven safe and effective in the trials. He says contrary to the survey, the parents he sees in clinics are more interested in getting their kids vaccinated as soon as possible. The doctors also discussed data showing the total preventable costs for treating hospitalized COVID patients has skyrocketed in the last three months to $5.7 billion.
Here are the community questions in the order the panel addressed them, followed by the short answer. The time code for the question is in parentheses. See the video for their full answers and comments.
• (16:35) An NPR model suggested no winter surge this year as children continue to get vaccinated in the next couple of months. Your thoughts? It’s possible, but doctors wouldn’t be surprised if there was a surge because of all the variants out there.
• (17:25) Have any children died of COVID in the U.S.? Social media posts that say there is no risk of death in children are simply not true. Children have died all over the country, six in Missouri and one just this week in Kansas.
• (19:05) Is there any verified data proving that vaccination decreases transmissibility? Information comes out on a daily basis, but early data shows that it does.
• (20:30) What's the best type of mask for young kids? Something that fits well and is comfortable. It must snugly cover the nose and mouth.
• (21:30) What role do kid vaccination rates play in getting through this pandemic quicker? The sooner we can get kids vaccinated the quicker we’ll keep the disease from spreading.
• (22:10) I’ve heard a lot of people who test positive for COVID only experience GI symptoms. Is it possible to not have any upper respiratory symptoms and be COVID positive? It’s possible but not common. Most COVID patients also experience at least a runny nose or scratchy throat.
• (24:00) When will the health system begin offering the newly-approved third Pfizer booster? Putting the process in place right now. Should be ready by Monday.
• (25:00) Since we’ve had the vaccine out for nine months, what is the data showing for immunity of those who have been vaccinated all this time, knowing we’ve had some breakthrough infections? The vaccines are still extremely effective. There is no need to rush out and get a third shot unless it’s medically necessary.
• (26:35) What recommendations do you have for schools about masking at each level of schooling? All age groups should be wearing a mask, especially those not vaccinated.
• (27:15) My adult daughter has type one diabetes, which is well controlled. She works in a preschool. Should she get the booster? CDC recommendations are vague, saying only that those in a preschool setting “may” receive a booster. The diabetes could put her into a higher risk category.
• (29:15) Can someone have a positive COVID test beyond the active disease period? If so for how long? Yes, it’s possible. PCR testing is very sensitive, and a person could test positive for weeks.

[tomlynch]

Shout out to Jessica, she's doing good work every day to get this information out to people. Of course the doctors as well, but I wanted to recognize Jessica's role in this. This is important work.

[Jupiter_Crash]

I’m happy for parents with kids 5-11 y/o to be able to vaccinate their kiddos soon. It’s such an emotional release when they do!