Answering COVID questions before Thanksgiving
It’s a week before the Thanksgiving holiday, and the kids are not fully vaccinated. What should I keep in mind when traveling? Medical experts answer our questions.
A week before Thanksgiving, and the kids are not fully vaccinated. What tips should I keep in mind when traveling? According to the AAA, some 53.4 million people are expected to travel this Thanksgiving holiday, up 13% from 2020.
Medical professionals at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and the American College of Emergency Physicians (the national medical society representing emergency medicine) offer these holiday travel tips for families:
Keep COVID-19 safety measures going. A child who has only had the first vaccine dose should continue to take all the regular precautions of masking and distancing until fully vaccinated, which happens two weeks after the second dose. When indoors in public places, you and your children should wear face masks and physically distance. Also, keep hand sanitizer and wipes readily available. The CDC advises those not fully vaccinated to delay their travel plans. Many travelers should also consider getting tested before they leave for a trip and once they return.
Get the flu shot. Getting
a flu shot in addition to a COVID-19 vaccine will give everyone a better chance to stay healthy and avoid hospitalization.
Prioritize safety as a host/ houseguest. Some may feel more comfortable confirming the vaccination status of houseguests before they arrive. Those who are sick or have symptoms should not host or attend a gathering.
As for COVID-19 advisories, Arkansas this week rejoined Chicago’s travel advisory that lists places in the U.S. where unvaccinated people should take extra COVID-19 precautions when visiting. That makes a total of 38 states and one territory on the travel advisory. States get on the travel advisory if they average at least 15 daily cases per 100,000 residents for two consecutive weeks.
The most updated guidance from the city advised that unvaccinated people get tested one to three days before leaving for their trip. Upon return, they should get a COVID-19 test within three to five days and quarantine for seven days. If they choose not to get tested, they should quarantine for 10 days.
— Darcel Rockett and Alice Yin
How soon can children go back to school after getting sick? With schools on high alert for students with COVID-19 symptoms, Dr. Salman Khan, a pediatrician for Cook County Health, said parents will want to avoid sending children back to the classroom with runny noses or if they are still coughing frequently.
“The No. 1 rule is children need to be fever-free for 24 to 48 hours, and you shouldn’t be in school with a bad cough because they’re not going to learn and they can get their classmates sick,” Khan said.
As pediatricians typically do not prescribe antibiotics for cold viruses, Khan suggests parents relieve their child’s discomfort by placing a humidifier in their bedroom (he said cold mist is best for younger children) and using nasal saline drops or sprays. For children over the age of 1, honey is a safer and tastier alternative to over-the-counter cough syrups.
If a child’s cough is not improving, and they don’t seem to be feeling better in three to five days, Khan suggests visiting a pediatrician who can listen to their lungs and ensure the youngster does not have pneumonia or bronchitis.
“I tell parents it’s always better to err on the side of caution,” Khan said.
— Karen Ann Cullotta
What do parents need to know about the new Pfizer vaccine for kids aged 5 to 11?
According to the Food and Drug Administration’s announcement authorizing the use of the Pfizer vaccine in children 5 through 11, the recommendation would be for a two-dose series, three weeks apart, but at a lower dose than has been used for people 12 and older. Younger children would receive 10 micrograms, compared with individuals 12 years and older, who receive 30 micrograms.
The FDA noted that in the U.S., 39% of COVID-19 cases in people younger than 18 are in children 5 through 11 years old, and about 8,300 COVID-19 cases resulted in hospitalization in this younger age group. As of Oct. 17, according to the FDA, 691 deaths from COVID-19 had been reported in the U.S. in people under age 18; 146 of these deaths were of children 5 to 11.
The CDC notes that although fewer children have been infected with the virus compared to adults, kids can be infected, get sick and spread COVID-19.
Right now, youths 12 and older receive the same dosage of the Pfizer vaccine as adults, and there are no patient weight requirements for vaccination. Nor does the dosage vary by weight.
— Alison Bowen
Can you get a flu shot and COVID-19 booster at the same time?
Yes. Dr. Sharon Welbel, Cook County Health’s system director of infection control and hospital epidemiology, urged us not to waste anytime getting our flu shots.
Welbel said she has not heard anecdotally of anyone having complications from getting both vaccines together. Those getting both during the same visit can expect to get one shot in each arm, Welbel said.
“Children have always gotten multiple vaccines at the same time,” Welbel said. “But if someone has concerns, and has the luxury of going in to their provider twice, that is certainly an option.”