The COVID-19 Pandemic: What About Our Kids?

It is the year anniversary of this pandemic being declared by the WHO. We have seen many lives lost, many families impacted, and are always being required to stay flexible with changing guidance, research, and data. When it comes to kids, many parents have felt like guidance has been lacking.  We know kids are not severely affected with complications as much as older adults, but they are at risk of getting this illness. And some risk is still risk. I invited Jessica Malaty Rivera (@jessicamalatyrivera on Instagram), who is an Infectious Disease Epidemiologist, Science Communication Lead at The COVID Tracking Project, and mother.  We discuss the pandemic as it stands and what it means for our children and some of the following: What does Jessica do as an infectious disease epidemiologist? When do we foresee kids receiving the vaccines? Is there a chance kids won't need the vaccine? Why is it important to test the vaccine in children? Why is a vaccine important for kids even if they are not as affected by severe disease?  What has been the hardest part of being on social media and spreading evidence-based information during this pandemic?  How to most recent CDC guidelines (From March 8th) regarding vaccinated adults impacts those with children.  Tune in and make sure to follow us @jessicamalatyrivera and @pedsdoctalk for more COVID-related education!  Check out my weekly videos on child health & development by ⁠⁠subscribing to PedsDocTalk on YouTube⁠⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠⁠⁠⁠ page of the website.  Thank you to our sponsor: BetterHelp for sponsoring this episode.  To schedule your first therapy session, visit https://www.betterhelp.com/peds to get 10% off your first month  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices