What parents need to know.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently announced that vaccinated people do not have to wear masks indoors or outdoors, in most cases.
But parents are left wondering how these latest guidelines impact our primary student population which is under 12 years of age and currently unable to access vaccines.
Our school nurse, a registered pediatric nurse at Children’s Hospital, help create these guidelines:
1. Should children continue to wear a mask if they are not vaccinated?
YES! The CDC recommends that all children should be masked when in public, especially indoors until a vaccine is approved for their age group. Most of our children are too young, and we need to protect them by us wearing a mask.
2. Should vaccinated adults go unmasked while unvaccinated kids wear face coverings?
NO. While it may be safe now for vaccinated persons to go unmasked, unvaccinated children need our support, especially in close gatherings, and until the entire family is vaccinated.
3. Can the whole family go to indoor gatherings even while the youngest are not vaccinated?
Maybe. Families should try to distant themselves together and weigh the benefits of taking a risk when the youngest are still vulnerable.
4. Because we don’t know who is vaccinated, should families mask in crowded places or indoors with strangers?
YES! Less than 48% currently are vaccinated in our area as of this publication date. Children under the age of 12 are unable to receive the vaccine. We recommend you protect your family with a mask until we reach a proper level of immunity.
5. Do we still need to wear a mask when dropping off and/or picking up our children?
YES! Until our staff is 100% vaccinated and our student population reaches the ability to gain a vaccination, we will limit exposure as much as possible. It is why we have been safe for over a year with no outbreaks.