In fact, vaccination coverage has dipped so low ⬇️ that countries are at risk ⚠️ of losing two decades of immunization progress.
@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19
But COVID isn’t the only risk our children 🧒🏽👧🏻👦🏿 face.
Over the last two years, millions of kids across the Americas 🌎 have missed out on their routine medical visits, leaving them behind on their routine vaccinations 🩹
@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19
Children with comorbidities, like diabetes and asthma, are especially vulnerable.
And while most of these children are recovering and doing well, not all of them are.
@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19
And because vaccinated 🩹 adults are well protected against severe disease, most hospitalizations occur among unvaccinated persons – including children 👦🏾👧🏻
But because of the scale of ongoing outbreaks, more people of all ages are becoming infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus 🦠
Hospitalizations 🏥 and severe cases are more frequent among children with preexisting diseases and rarely seen among otherwise healthy children.
@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19
As we touch on the topic of equity, I want to share an update on the pandemic’s impact on our children 👧🏻🧒🏽 and adolescents 👩🏿🦱🧑🏽🦱
@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19
First, we should be clear ➡️ Children can get infected 🦠 with COVID19 and transmit it to others.
When sick, most children 👦🏾👧🏽 experience mild infections that can be treated at home.
These data 📊 are also critical to help countries identify gaps and target resources to ensure that the people most at risk of severe COVID-19 disease and death are protected first.
Now more than ever, we need data about how this virus 🦠 is affecting different ages, genders, groups, & geographies, so we can equip local municipalities and districts with the tools 🛠 they need to manage risk and guide their populations during this time.
