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CDC warns of increase in hospitalizations of young people ages 12 to 17 due to COVID-19

2021-06-05T01:36:09.823Z


Fewer and fewer older adults are hospitalized and younger people are getting seriously ill. Health authorities offer some possible reasons and explain what can be done about it.


A recent increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations among 12 to 17-year-olds highlights the importance of continuing prevention measures against coronavirus and boosting vaccination, according to a study published Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Disease Prevention (CDC).

In March and April, as COVID-19 vaccines already kept older adults out of hospitals, more and more children between the ages of 12 and 17 were being hospitalized.

About a third were in the intensive care unit,

according to the CDC report.

None died.

[Follow our coverage of the coronavirus pandemic]

The risk of becoming seriously ill and being hospitalized for COVID-19 increases with age, but children and teens can still get sick.

Hospitalization rates for COVID-19 in this group were generally about 2.5 to 3 times higher than those for influenza

in the past three seasons.

This new data from the CDC highlights the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine for teens, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said at a news conference Thursday.

The vaccines are now licensed for anyone over the age of 12.

"[The findings] force us to redouble our motivation to vaccinate our teens and young adults," he said.

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The CDC report analyzed data from a network of health centers in 14 states.

They found that 204 teens were hospitalized for COVID-19 between January 1 and March 31, 2021. Of that group, 64 were admitted to an intensive care unit and 10 were placed on a ventilator.

About two-thirds had underlying medical conditions, but about 30% did not, showing that

healthy children can still get seriously ill

.

Hospitalization rates for this age group peaked in January, decreased in February, and then began to rise again in early March.

Why the rebound for teens?

A combination of factors may have contributed, according to the CDC report.

Children began returning to school and extracurricular activities in person in these months, and indoor environments with more people are the most spread of COVID-19.

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In addition, variants of the virus were circulating that can spread more easily.

Some areas also began to relax restrictions as vaccination rates soar,

which could have allowed the virus to spread among those not yet eligible to get vaccinated,

including adolescents.

Nearly 6.4 million children ages 12 to 17 in the United States have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

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“In the month leading up to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for teens and 12 years of age and older, the CDC saw troubling data on adolescent hospitalizations with COVID-19.

More concerning was the number of adolescents admitted to the hospital who required intensive care unit treatment with mechanical ventilation,

"Walensky said, adding that the data" compels us to redouble our motivation to vaccinate our adolescents and young adults. "

Wallensky also recommended that young people continue to wear face masks and take precautions to protect themselves until they are fully vaccinated.

With information from CNN and The Verge.

Source: telemundo

All news articles on 2021-06-05

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