Much has been made these past few months about re-opening schools now that the coronavirus vaccines are available and the spread of the virus seems to be waning, even though teachers and students are not in the highest brackets for immunization. The argument has been put forth that schools can be re-opened because children tend to not transmit the virus as readily as adults, and thus sending kids and teachers back to school–albeit with the usual social distancing procedures still in effect–will not result in a significant number of cases of coronavirus disease. I substantially disagree.
While it is true that children, taken in an overall setting, may not transmit the virus as readily as adults (perhaps because of residual immunity from infections with some of the other coronaviruses that have been around for God-knows-how-long, and which may provide some protection) it is also true that children CAN be infected with COVID-19, and can transmit it. They can also get very severe disease with COVID-19, and can have very serious and long-lasting sequelae. Even die from the disease. Children are NOT immune to COVID-19, and we should not assume that because they may not transmit it as well as adults that their transmission is nil. It isn’t. All it takes is one child with COVID-19 in the class for the other children to get infected, as well as the teacher, who can bring the virus home and begin a process of transmitting it to others, inside and outside of their home. Children are in school for up to six or seven hours a day. School is not merely a short exposure to other people outside the home like a trip to the supermarket. While social distancing protocols are important, they should be limited to short person-to-person interactions and can do only so much. Transmission by children may be reduced, but it is NOT zero.
I have believed ever since the vaccines against COVID-19 came out that children and teachers should have been put in the highest level group along with health care workers and emergency responders. Even above the elderly (except those in nursing homes). Immunize the children first to help cut off the spread of the virus in what is the largest and most regular meeting places in the country–schools. Then go on to the rest of the population. We adults do better at following the social distancing protocols than children. Does anyone believe that kids, especially elementary school kids, will wear a mask six or seven hours a day? Even I don’t like that.
Immunize children and teachers FIRST.