My inbox is flooded with really great questions from parents. Here is my attempt to answer the most pressing and frequent ones… “How is Delta affecting kids?” Delta is 200% more transmissible, so more kids will get it (just like more unvaccinated adults will get it). Delta also has a 1000% higher viral load, which means kids will test positive more quickly following exposure. This also means people are shedding a ton more virus, so if your kid comes in contact with a positive COVID19 case, the probability of getting infected increases. If your kid becomes positive, they have more opportunity to infect others too.
Thank you! I read that the Pfizer vaccine for kids under 12 won’t be ready until mid winter (December - February)? November sounds great but is too too good to be true?
Thank you so much for all your work! Based on the chart and with school starting soon in some states that won't allow for required making indoors - we're all struggling to navigate what to do. We're reaching out to have our voice heard with our school, but in the meantime trying to plan in case there isn't universal making. Any advice for approaching school specifically?
Hearing so much about how the viral load is so much higher for Delta, I am feeling worried about my unvaccinated child, even within her bubble of vaccinated adults.
If Delta sheds more virus, is the risk of transmission from a vaccinated person with a breakthrough case more likely? In other words, if I were to catch Delta but be asymptomatic (thanks, vaccine!), would my unvaccinated child be more likely to get it from me than she would have been for the previous variants?
I am still very, very careful but was under the impression that (1) breakthrough cases are rare, and (2) transmission from a vaccinated person is rare... so I figure that the combination of the two is VERY rare... but does Delta change that?
Thank you, as always, for all the helpful information.
Thank you for this! I’m trying to navigate the chart, with two children who are in full time, mostly indoor summer camp and preschool, fully masked, with 0% peers vaccinated and overall institutional vax rates of 95% and 60% (ugh). I can’t tell which level that would fall under—since I wouldn’t call 60% staff vax rate a “vast majority” (and of course I can’t speak to their specific teachers.) What would be your sense of that risk level?
Thank you! I read that the Pfizer vaccine for kids under 12 won’t be ready until mid winter (December - February)? November sounds great but is too too good to be true?
Thank you so much for all your work! Based on the chart and with school starting soon in some states that won't allow for required making indoors - we're all struggling to navigate what to do. We're reaching out to have our voice heard with our school, but in the meantime trying to plan in case there isn't universal making. Any advice for approaching school specifically?
Dr. Jetelina,
Hearing so much about how the viral load is so much higher for Delta, I am feeling worried about my unvaccinated child, even within her bubble of vaccinated adults.
If Delta sheds more virus, is the risk of transmission from a vaccinated person with a breakthrough case more likely? In other words, if I were to catch Delta but be asymptomatic (thanks, vaccine!), would my unvaccinated child be more likely to get it from me than she would have been for the previous variants?
I am still very, very careful but was under the impression that (1) breakthrough cases are rare, and (2) transmission from a vaccinated person is rare... so I figure that the combination of the two is VERY rare... but does Delta change that?
Thank you, as always, for all the helpful information.
Thank you for this! I’m trying to navigate the chart, with two children who are in full time, mostly indoor summer camp and preschool, fully masked, with 0% peers vaccinated and overall institutional vax rates of 95% and 60% (ugh). I can’t tell which level that would fall under—since I wouldn’t call 60% staff vax rate a “vast majority” (and of course I can’t speak to their specific teachers.) What would be your sense of that risk level?
Thank you for this ( quick and thorough) response!