Unvaccinated children are twice as likely to be hospitalized with Omicron

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also found that about a third of children in that age group have no underlying medical conditions but are hospitalized; 1/5 have to be treated in the intensive care unit.

The study included about 400 children, ages 5-11, who were hospitalized in 14 states during the winter surge of the Omicron variant.

Among the children with COVID-19 Before or during hospitalization, three-quarters of children are hospitalized primarily for COVID-19, the CDC said.

Sheet New York Times news, the latest findings show vaccines reduce the risk of hospitalization in children from COVID-19, although these vaccines are less effective against the Omicron variant.

In addition, research also shows that racial differences in vaccinations may put black children at greater risk of severe COVID-19 infection. About a third of unvaccinated children are black, and black children account for about a third of hospital admissions.

It is known that at all ages, vaccination rates for black children are lower than for white children.

The CDC study authors said: “Increasing immunization rates among children, especially ethnic and minority populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19, is critical to preventing hospitalizations and exacerbations from COVID-19.” .

As in adults, the Omicron variant appears to be less likely to cause severe illness in children than the Delta variant. However, Omicron is highly contagious and has infected a lot of children, causing higher hospitalization rates during the Omicron wave.

According to the Times, only about a third of American children aged 5-11 have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This is the lowest rate of any age group. In recent weeks, the rate of immunization for children in that age group has slowed dramatically.