MiniBury

Brought to you by the Addison Independent

  • Home
  • About MiniBury
  • Archives
  • The Addison Independent
  • Sign up for the newsletter
  • Events Calendar
  • Summer Camp Guide 2022*
  • Stuff To Do

What To Know About Kids, School & The Delta Variant

08.20.2021 By: Megan James

Worried about what the Delta variant means for your unvaccinated children as they head back to school? You’re not alone.

Earlier this week UVM Children’s Hospital hosted a Q&A on Facebook Live with Dr. Rebecca Bell, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter (and mom of two daycare-age children) and the hospital’s Chief of Pediatrics Dr. Lewis First.

The takeaway: Vermont is in good shape. Schools, pediatricians, school nurses and health department officials are feeling optimistic about the school year. As long as folks can follow these basic guidelines:

Get vaccinated if you’re eligible. Get tested right away if you have symptoms. Rethink your travel plans. Wear masks indoors in public places, even if you’re vaccinated.

(Here’s where to get tested; most sites now take walk-ins. Here’s where to get the vaccine; everyone 12 and older is eligible.)

“Our goal is now to get everyone in school in-person, full time,” said Dr. Bell. “We really think we can do that in Vermont because we have a high vaccination rate, and our schools are committed to keeping young people safe.”

School will look a little different than it did last year. No daily screening check-ins, for example. And the schools won’t be focusing on cleaning surfaces as much as they did last year.

“But we will be doing the things that we know work,” said Bell. “Minimizing the spread of this respiratory virus with masks. We’re asking folks to stay home when they’re sick, pushing everyone to get vaccinated when you’re eligible, and to get tested when you’re sick.

“We really feel like we can do this.”

HESITANT ABOUT THE VACCINE FOR KIDS?

According to Dr. Bell, 11 million 12- to 17-year olds have now been vaccinated in the U.S. — 27,000 of those in Vermont. “This is a lot of data points, that’s a lot of reassurance,” she said. “This is the most closely watched vaccine we’ve ever had.”

WHEN WILL THE VACCINE BE READY FOR YOUNGER KIDS?

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are being tested on thousands of children between the ages of 2 and 12 right now. “This is about safety,” said Dr. First. “This is about our children. We know there’s an urgency to get this out yesterday. But we need to make sure we’ve checked all the boxes and done it properly.”

The current estimation is that the vaccine will be ready for 5- to 11-year olds by November or December, said First.

“We’re all working together to get this to our children asap, as soon as it’s safe and the science tells us we can do it,” said First. “And I think it’s going to be pretty soon.”

IS IT SAFE TO SEND MY UNDER-2-YEAR-OLD, WHO CAN’T GET VACCINATED OR WEAR A MASK, TO DAYCARE?

Many of these childcare centers never shut down, Bell pointed out. They’ve been keeping our kids safe since March 2020.

“We’ve been keeping track of the numbers, and there really isn’t much transmission in childcare centers,” she said.

Still, there are other viruses around; kids are still getting colds. So it’s important for parents to have a back-up plan for when their kid wakes up and is coughing or congested and they can’t go to school.

WHAT ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH CASES?

Vaccinated people are very well protected from severe illness and death. But it’s still possible — especially with the highly transmissible Delta variant — for them to get infected, and to pass it along to others.

“When I’m out and about in public indoors, I wear a mask,” said Bell. “It’s a small thing for me to do. I feel really well protected from severe disease, but I don’t want to pass it on to my children, I don’t want to miss work.”

It is not necessary, Bell and First agreed, to wear a mask at home around your unvaccinated children — unless you are actively infected with COVID.

IS IT SAFE TO TAKE THE KIDS TO THE GROCERY STORE?

Yes, as long as they’re masked. “What we saw in contact tracing over the last year,” said Bell, is that the virus tended to spread in informal gatherings with friends and family. “The grocery store doesn’t tend to be a high risk place. People are in and out, not closely packed, you’re not eating and drinking with others near by.”

WHAT ARE WE SEEING WITH CHILDREN WHO GET COVID?

Vermont is seeing very few hospitalizations among children. “We don’t think right now, based on the data, that children are getting sicker with Delta,” said Bell. “What we’re seeing is way more children are getting infected, especially in areas where adults aren’t vaccinated.”

Here’s the full Q&A.

Related Posts

  • back to school, back to school...

    back to school they go! Ok perhaps it's not quite time for the teary goodbyes…

  • Help Outfit Local Kids For Winter

    For the past few years, the Middlebury resale shop Junebug has been donating children's outerwear…

  • after school activities

    Middlebury Parks and Rec Fall Activity Guide is out. You can find the online Addison…

Megan James

Upcoming Events

Jun
29
Wed
9:15 am Drop-In Storytime With Miss Tricia @ Ilsley Library
Drop-In Storytime With Miss Tricia @ Ilsley Library
Jun 29 @ 9:15 am – 10:00 am
Children ages 5 and under and their caregivers enjoy stories and songs with Miss Tricia!
9:30 am Vergennes Playgroup @ Vergennes Congregational Church
Vergennes Playgroup @ Vergennes Congregational Church
Jun 29 @ 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Addison County Parent Child Center and Evergreen Preschool are excited to announce they will be starting their playgroup again. Come join the fun every Wednesday for the month of May at the Vergennes Congregational Church.
9:30 am Virtual Mama Group @ Zoom
Virtual Mama Group @ Zoom
Jun 29 @ 9:30 am
Meet other mamas in this virtual gathering led by Middlebury mom Angela Scavo. Email Angela for the meeting link.
11:00 am Singalong With Linda Bassick @ Vergennes City Green
Singalong With Linda Bassick @ Vergennes City Green
Jun 29 @ 11:00 am
Little ones and their caregivers gather on the green for a singalong!
3:30 pm D&D @ Ilsley @ Ilsley Library
D&D @ Ilsley @ Ilsley Library
Jun 29 @ 3:30 pm
We’ve got dungeons! We’ve got dragons! We’ve got shiny dice! On Wednesdays, any and all middle schoolers can come beat the villain (or your DM)! Participants will create characters, paint a minifigure to act as [...]
7:00 pm Bristol Band Music in the Park @ Bristol Town Green
Bristol Band Music in the Park @ Bristol Town Green
Jun 29 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
The Bristol Band, which has been making music since 1870, plays under the gazebo on the green. Special events include: June 22: BBQ July 13: First Baptist Church brownie sundaes August 3: St. Ambrose BBQ
9:30 pm Stargazing Open House @ Mittelman Observatory
Stargazing Open House @ Mittelman Observatory
Jun 29 @ 9:30 pm – 11:00 pm
The college telescopes are open to the public for stargazing, weather permitting. Observatory open house nights are free and open to the public. However, these events will take place only if the sky is expected [...]
Jun
30
Thu
10:00 am Little Fishes Storytime @ Platt ... @ Platt Memorial Library
Little Fishes Storytime @ Platt ... @ Platt Memorial Library
Jun 30 @ 10:00 am
Toddlers and preschoolers enjoy stories and activities.
10:30 am Bixby Storytime @ Vergennes City Green
Bixby Storytime @ Vergennes City Green
Jun 30 @ 10:30 am
Join the Children’s Librarian outdoors by the gazebo on the city green for stories, songs, and rhymes. This program is designed for preschool-aged children and their caregivers. Kids of all ages are welcome!
10:30 am Bristol Storytime @ Lawrence Memorial Library
Bristol Storytime @ Lawrence Memorial Library
Jun 30 @ 10:30 am
Find Marita, her ukulele and friends at the library for stories, songs, and activities.
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML

Helpful Websites

  • Addison Central School District
  • Addison County Readers
  • Addison County WIC page
  • Addison Independent
  • Addison Northwest School District
  • Bristol Recreation Department
  • Building Bright Futures
  • Experience Middlebury
  • Find and Go Seek
  • Ilsley Public Library
  • Junebug
  • Kids VT
  • Let's Grow Kids
  • Mary Johnson Children's Center
  • Memorial Sports Center (Ice Rink)
  • Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT)
  • Middlebury College Events
  • Middlebury Community Music Center
  • Middlebury Parks and Recreation
  • Middlebury Weather
  • Mount Abraham Unified School District
  • National Association of Education of Young Children
  • Rikert Nordic Center
  • Simon Says
  • Snow Bowl
  • VT Dept. of Health
  • WIC Health

Copyright © 2022 · Modern Blogger Pro Theme By, Pretty Darn Cute Design