Now we have the American Academy of Pediatrics recommending masks for all students age two and over regardless of vaccination status.
It sure would be nice if the experts could all get on the same page here. The fall semester is, what a month away?
I’m going to accentuate the positive by noting that the AAP and the CDC are on the same page in the most important respect, which is that they both strongly recommend keeping schools open this fall come hell or high water. The choice shouldn’t be between unmasked kids learning remotely and masked kids learning in class, as there’s robust evidence by now that children are at basically zero risk from COVID. But if we’re given that choice, masked and in class is a no-brainer.
AAP: Students, staff should wear masks in schools â regardless of vaccination status
By Catherine Park
CDC director says COVID-19 is becoming âpandemic of the unvaccinatedâ
During a White House briefing, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said cases in the U.S. were up about 70% over the last week, hospital admissions were up 36% and deaths rose by 26%.
The American Academy of Pediatrics released a set of recommendations for students and staff ahead of the approaching school year on Monday which included strong support for in-person learning, but urged both teachers and students to wear masks in classrooms regardless of their vaccination status.
By Bill Galluccio
Photo: Getty Images
The organization said that wearing masks is still necessary because a large number of students are not eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine. Currently, none of the available vaccines are authorized for use in people under the age of 12. The Food and Drug Administration is not expected to make a decision on whether young children can be vaccinated until after the school year starts.
While the Pfizer vaccine has been authorized for use in adolescents over the age of 12, many schools do not have a system to track who has been vaccinated. Without a system in place, schools will have a difficult time enforcing the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that only unvaccinated individuals need to wear masks.
All children should wear masks in school despite vaccination status, pediatrics group says
The American Academy of Pediatrics said universal masking in schools is necessary to return in the fall
Published:
Updated:
Pediatrics group provides new guidance on masking in schools
New guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics said everyone older than 2 years of age should wear masks at school this fall, whether they’re vaccinated against COVID-19 or not.
The AAP is calling this new guidance a “layered approach” in order to get students back into the classroom. This approach outline that school staff should also wear masks.
Science has flown the coop washingtontimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from washingtontimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.