State Sen. Mike Kennedy (District 14-R) expressed his view that “government should not usurp the power of parents” to decline masking, vaccination or distancing. He is demanding specific metrics on a disease which continues to evolve and mutate worldwide.
While the pandemic in the last year resulted in fewer than 300 deaths of U.S. children, over two million were infected and potentially spread it to vulnerable adults. Please note that children do not live alone. The CDC found that 75% of COVID-19 deaths among children were kids of color.
The risk for children is worsening with the arrival of new virus variants from around the world. According to Indian pediatrician Dr. Sanjeev Bagai, “Last year, across the world, around 11% affected were children. But this year, globally, we are witnessing almost 20-40% of children among positive cases. T-cell immunity, lack of ace receptors in the nasal passage in the throat, and other protective proteins don’t seem to work.”
Until children under 16 can be vaccinated, any discussion of dropping the use of masks in schools is inviting tragedy.
Christine B. Helfrich, Millcreek
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