While we are thrilled that children 12 years and older are now eligible and receiving COVID-19 vaccines, there remain the following concerns:
- While children 12 and older are eligible to be vaccinated, there are many families that are hesitant or concerned about vaccination for their children.
- Children under the age of 12 are currently not eligible for any COVID-19 vaccine.
- It takes 5 weeks to reach full protection from vaccination, so it will take time before every child is vaccinated and gains full protection.
- There are growing numbers of variants impacting parts of the world, including the United States. We are learning more about these variants every day, but regular screening testing may be one way to detect these variants before they spread.
- Screening testing can be viewed as another tool, along with masking, handwashing, and isolating positive individuals, to keep communities safe, reduce transmission, and build confidence that it is safe to go to school.