What do parents under 12 years old need to know about the recommendation of CDC about the use of Aldia-Dallas-Horiz TDMN mask

A large number of Texans are ready to resume their lifestyle before the pandemic thanks to a new guideline issued this week by federal health authorities on the use of mask.

In what seems like a sign that the country is about to return to normal, the disease control and prevention centers (CDC) announced on Thursday that people totally vaccinated against the coronavirus no longer have to use a mask and maintain the distancesocial in meetings of any magnitude.

Children from the age of 12 can now receive the Pfizer-Biotech vaccine, and there are more and more evidence of the efficacy of the vaccine in preventing infection and transmission of the disease.

As people take off the mask and celebrate, questions persist about how children who still cannot be vaccinated affect.

Children under 17 years of age make up a small percentage of cases of infection, both in Texas and nationally, but anyway parents want to know how to better protect their children.

This is what three experts say about what parents with children under 12 should know in relation to new guidelines.

Experts say that children under 12 must follow the same recommendations as any unaccoured person;that is, they must use mask and maintain social distance being in the company of other people.

"It practically does not change anything for children who cannot be vaccinated," said Dr. Angela Moemeka, Pediatrics Pediatrics in Coppell.

"Life has to continue as it has been during the pandemic until we reach the point where they can be vaccinated".

Dr. Michael Chang, an assistant professor of Pediatrics at Uthealth in Houston, said that children under 12 years must continue to limit their interactions with people who do not know and play outside "it is probably better than inside".

Experts warn that recommendations can change in the coming months for children under 12 years as cases of general infection decrease and more people are vaccinated.

"The CDC frequently update their recommendations is good," said Chang.“It doesn't mean they don't know what they are doing;It means that they stay up to date ".

Fully -vaccinated parents who have children under 12 can take off their mask without fear, experts say.

It is still possible to get sick after having vaccinated, but they are rare cases.In most of these cases, the vaccine aminoras the symptoms of the disease.

After the announcement of the CDC this week, questions have emerged about whether the people who chose not to vaccinate will stop using a mask too.

But Moemeka says that people who are totally vaccinated are protected to such a degree that they don't have to worry.

“As for people who are fully vaccinated, there is no reason to wonder if others around them are or are not (vaccinated).That's what the guidelines of the CDCs are discussed, ”he said.

“There is no concern to say,‘ I don't bring a mask, nor that person...Will it be vaccinated? ’.That is irrelevant.What is about receiving all your vaccines ".

Chang coincided with that appreciation, adding that parents should not worry about whether their child is at greater risk because more people take off the mask.

"The key is that as long as you can keep your child physically distanced and wearing a mask until there are vaccines for them, I think the children will be safe," he said.

Experts say that children under 12 must use facial cover and maintain physical lilling in schools, nurseries, camps or in other group environments where some people may not bring mask.

Dr. Diana Cervantes, Epidemiologist and assistant professor at the Center for Health Sciences of the University of Northern Texas, said parents must "ask many questions" and stay informed about prevention measures for groups of children.

"Although the vast majority of children who infect, or have no symptoms or their symptoms are very slight," said Cervantes.

"There is a small percentage that can have serious complications, so you have to keep that in mind".

Cervantes added that parents have to evaluate their individual situation and find a good balance between protecting children and allowing them to live with other children.

"Just be informed and think," I'm calm with that? ".

"But definitely, without a doubt, science shows that if you are already vaccinated, its risk of infected and subsequently infecting others is extremely low, and that is why this decision".

Families with children must continue to avoid air trips and better travel by road.

Chang said that he has received numerous questions about whether families with unaccoured children can travel by plane, which he does not recommend.

"A closed atmosphere will continue to be relatively more risky than travel by car or be outside," he said.

And if a family decides to travel with children by plane, children must wear a mask at the airport and during the flight.

Cervantes said that shorter travel options can be camping or a park, and that staying in their town and dispensing with great vacations avoids putting their children in Risgo.

"Parents have to keep in mind that the coronavirus has not disappeared, which has not been eradicated," he said.

During the pandemic, children have infected coronavirus in lower percentages than adults, but as more adults vaccinate, the proportion of children who contract the virus could increase, says Moemeka.

"What we are seeing is that the figures are changing, so we are not seeing so much an increase in quantity, but that the new infections are occurring mainly in that younger group," he said

"It has gone from 1,000 to 800 and 600 cases, but we see more and more than the affected people are people who have not vaccinated, and that was expected to happen".

That trend is already evident in Dallas County.

Children under 17 have represented more than 20% of the cases reported in Dallas County in April and May, according to county statistics.

Last year, that age range represented about 6% of all cases of infection reported in April and 10% of all cases in May.

Children can experience serious complications of Covid if they get sick, although it is rare.

That is why it is important that children take precautions against the virus up to two weeks after receiving all their vaccines.

Cervantes says that parents have to be cautious and aware of the tendency of pandemic at all times because "you can always change".

"We are at a good time, the levels are very, very low, and we foresee that this will continue," he said.

"But that does not mean that it already disappeared and that we will not have to worry about the Coronavirus.".

In an analysis of the CDCs of more than 25 million cases of COVID-19, just over 542,000-ask 2.1% - occurred in children 4 years or less.

More than 2.6 million —10.2% - occurred in children aged 5 to 17, according to the study of the CDC.

Of almost 80,000 cases confirmed in Texas of which are demographic data, 277 - less than half of 1% - were in children less than 1 year, according to state data.

Around 1,300 were reported in children between 1 and 9 years old - the 1.7% of cases - and just over 3,700 in children aged 10 to 19 - the 4.8% -.

In Texas, around 9.1 million people, or 40.7% of those over 16, have been totally vaccinated, and around 11.7 million have received at least one dose of vaccine.

Little more than 5,400 children aged 12 to 15 have received at least one dose.

Keep talking with your children about the importance of wearing a mask

Moemeka says it is important that parents talk to their children why they should continue using facial cover.

He says that he commission children to watch that family members wear a mask, and make them put masks to their toys and stuffed animals, they are things that parents can do so that their experience is less stressful.

"To do it in such a way that they don't seem scary, but protection, as well as taught them to wash their hands before eating," he said.