With kids going back to school and the COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing across the United States, there has never been a more imperative time to protect our children from this transmissible and life-threatening virus.
While many children are too young to get vaccinated, parents can feel empowered knowing that there are certain actions and precautions they can implement to keep their children safe. Use Crimson Care’s COVID-19 safety tips for kids below to keep your children and yourself protected from the virus while school is back in session.
COVID-19 Safety Tips for Kids
Make Sure Those Who are Eligible Get Vaccinated
The biggest step you can take to protect not only yourself, but your family, friends, and others from COVID-19 is to make sure those in your household who are eligible get vaccinated.
Furthermore, while many children are too young to get vaccinated, if your family includes kids that are 12 years or older, make sure they get vaccinated.
According to current research, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is 100% effective in preventing the COVID-19 virus in children ages 12 through 15. Previous research has shown that the vaccine is 95% effective in preventing the COVID-19 virus with symptoms in people aged 16 and older.
Social Distancing is Key
While social distancing, also known as physical distancing, has become somewhat of a mockery lately, science and research still show that allowing enough space between people reduces the rate of transmission and decreases the risk of getting COVID-19.
While it might not be possible to practice social distancing within schools, you can still encourage your young ones to take certain precautions when attending school. This may include:
Avoiding large social gatherings around lockers or central spaces.
Creating a “quarantine pod” of limited friends to stick around with.
Using a one-way traffic system in hallways.
Avoiding the bus and, instead, getting rides to school with a vaccinated adult.
Wearing masks while in school to prevent COVID-19 transmission.
Alternatively, if you don’t feel your child is safe at school, you can always inquire about implementing remote learning, or a hybrid model that uses a combination of in-person teaching and remote learning.
Wear Masks and Wash Hands
It is still important to continually wear masks and regularly wash your hands to prevent the spread of the virus. Both the CDC and World Health Organization recommend wearing a mask in spaces where there is a high risk of transmission, and as you can imagine, schools are no exception.
However, as a parent, it’s important to normalize the wearing of masks, which should help your child better understand why masks are a necessary step to keeping themselves and people around them safe.
Furthermore, we encourage you to regularly wash your masks, provide your family with back-up clean masks in case they lose one, and clearly label your child’s mask so it is not confused with another when they are at school.
Prioritize Your Family’s Needs
Throughout the school year, make sure to prioritize your family’s needs over various activities, events, and gatherings. For example, if you don’t feel comfortable attending a wedding this winter, you need to determine the level of risk and prioritize your family’s needs over the wants of others.
Ultimately, you need to make the best decision for your family in order to keep everyone safe and protected from COVID-19.
Stay Safe with the Help of the Crimson Care Team
Dr. Peramsetty and his team at Crimson Care are here to help you stay safe and protected from COVID-19. Whether you need to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, undergo coronavirus testing, or get an antibody treatment, Crimson Care is here for all of your COVID-19 needs.
Use our online scheduling portal to book your appointment today! We’re currently offering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to anyone 18 and older at our Crimson Care and First Care clinics.