Navigating kid-related activities by COVID-19 risk tolerance level
There has been little-to-no guidance for us, parents, on navigating this world with unvaccinated children.
So, our team of epidemiologists, immunologists, and public health, biological, and clinician scientists (who are also all moms!) collaborated to create a guide to help navigate the risks associated with kid-related activities.
Everyone's risk threshold is different- with some being more risk adverse than others. So, we categorized activities by low, moderate, and high risk. Parents should also factor community-level vaccination rates, as well as current levels of COVID-19 transmission when assessing these risks. Further, if your child is high-risk (e.g. asthma, obese, medical complexity, etc., HERE is a list) or you have high-risk individuals in your household (i.e. elderly, immunocompromised) your risk tolerance should be lowered.
We did our best to include many activities that kids enjoy during the summertime but, of course, this list is not exhaustive. Use your best judgement. And, remember, you're killing it as a parent in this very confusing time.
All the best,
YLE (and Dr. Jess Steier, DrPH; Dr. Andrea Love, PhD; Dr. Alison Bernstein, PhD; Dr. Rebecca J. Heick, PhD; Dr. Malia Jones, MPH PhD; Dr. Eve Bloomgarden, MD; Dr. Liz Marnik, PhD; and Dr. Marla Clayman, MPH PhD)
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And here it is broken down…
Thank you so much! So helpful in this murky time- the fog / lack of guidance is exhausting.
My question s this: what is your assessment of the risk of adults ( vaccinated) doing these activities given unvax kids at home? That is how do these numbers change for a vaccinated adult in terms of potential for transmission to kids? We are the only ones in our family w unvax members ( an 8 yo) - how safe is it for her to he around a vaccinated adult who has say travelled? Eaten indoors etc? Im confused about transmission rates - vax to unvax people? Thanks! SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR BLOG!!!
I also have a question - my 16 yr old is finally two weeks past his second dose so fully vaccinated and wants to go visit friends again - my husband does not think this is safe since we have a 10 yr old at home who is unvaccinated. I was trying to explain that I don’t think our older son can spread it to our younger one. Is there any link I can show to prove this to him ? Or am I wrong? It is so stressful trying to navigate this thank you for all you do to help !