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Q: Does my unvaccinated child still have to wear a mask if the rest of our family has been vaccinated?
A: New guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to wear masks indoors or outdoors in most cases. But we realize that families with children who are not yet old enough for a vaccine may have a hard time deciding what is best for everyone.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
For indoor activities, family members who live in the same household do not need to wear masks when they are together. Schools and daycares may have different guidelines for wearing masks indoors, so check with those responsible for those locations.
For outdoor activities, anyone who is not yet fully immunized, including children, should always wear masks, except:
– For activities with members of your household, such as a bike ride or on foot
– At small gatherings with fully immunized family and friends
– During water sports such as swimming and diving or sports where masks could pose a safety risk such as gymnastics, stunts, tumbling and wrestling
– In activities where individuals can keep a distance such as golf and tennis in singles
– For children under 2 years old
Families should continue to involve their children in school and community activities, both indoors and outdoors. Children and adolescents who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 should continue to wear masks when social distancing is not possible.
There is not yet a COVID-19 vaccine for children under 12. This means that masks are still an important way to protect them. And because unvaccinated children can still pass the virus on to others, wearing a mask also protects others.
Parents, if you are vaccinated and your children are not, you can of course choose to leave without a mask. But you can instead choose to model the mask wearing behavior to support your children when you are all together. For example, anyone can wear masks for a trip to the grocery store or to the park.
When some older siblings are vaccinated, younger ones who are not vaccinated may think it is unfair to have to wear a mask. If they’re hanging out with friends, everyone could be okay with wearing masks anyway. Explain the importance of wearing a mask to your young children and stress that they can still have fun and see their friends.
Remember that to be fully vaccinated you must be at least two weeks after your last dose of vaccine. Children 12 years of age and older can receive the Pfizer vaccine in two doses at this time, so they are fully immunized two weeks after the second dose. Until then, they should continue to wear a mask in public places.
There will be times when you will be surrounded by a group of people and some will wear masks and some will not. Having a family mask plan will help your kids know what to expect. Include your children in family discussions about how best to protect everyone inside and outside your home.
Ask your children and adolescents for their opinion on wearing a mask and getting vaccinated. They have learned a lot about considering others during this time and will likely provide some pearls of wisdom to include in your family’s plan.
In addition to physical distancing, hand washing and vaccination when it becomes available to everyone, wearing a mask is essential to reduce the infection and spread of SARS-CoV-2. Sick children (fever, cough, congestion, runny nose, diarrhea or vomiting) should stay home. If you have any concerns about your child’s health, talk to your pediatrician.
Research shows that COVID-19 vaccines are remarkably effective and safe, and the AAP urges all children aged 12 and over and adults to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as they can. The vaccine is free, and states have vaccine finder websites to help locate vaccination locations. Clinical trials of vaccines are currently underway in children as young as 6 months old.
Until everyone can be protected by the vaccine, masks can keep your family safe and healthy.
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ABOUT THE WRITER:
Dr. Yvonne Maldonado is Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. She is also chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases. For more information, visit HealthyChildren.org, the AAP parents site.
© 2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Copyright 2021 Tribune Content Agency.
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