Deepak Palakshappa became a pediatrician to give poor kids access to good medical care. Still, back in his residency days, the now-associate professor at Wake…
School systems across the Triad are lifting their indoor mask mandates and making it optional, including Guilford County and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Health experts say after telling children they had to wear masks in school for so long, the change can create anxiety. Families are considering several factors in their decisions. Those could include the health status of their child, a vulnerable family member, and if they’ve been vaccinated or not.
COVID-19 vaccination rates for children in North Carolina are still low, despite the surge in cases driven by omicron. Statewide, 24% of children ages 5-11 have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In Forsyth County, that number is slightly higher at 25%. Just 18% of the age group is considered fully vaccinated. Dr. Kimberly Montez, a pediatrician with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, says some parents are hesitant because they think younger children are less susceptible to severe illness.