Back to School: Keeping Kids Safe from Infection

Marin Mommies presents a sponsored article from MarinHealth Medical Center in Greenbrae.

Did you know 2020 was the mildest flu season on record? With most Americans following COVID-19 restrictions, the transmission of airborne viruses was temporarily suppressed, and many kids got through the year without so much as a sniffle—proof that masking and social distancing work! Now that the country is opening back up, viruses are spreading again and pediatricians are seeing more babies and toddlers with colds, pneumonia, and other respiratory viruses.

Pandemic protection measures also disrupted the normal season for respiratory viruses such as the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the most common cause of bronchial infections and pneumonia in babies. RSV season normally runs from November to early spring. This year, RSV infections began surging in March and continue to do so.

By the time they reach age two, nearly all children will have had at least one RSV infection, the majority with only mild cold symptoms to show for it. However, 58,000 children are hospitalized with RSV every year. Those at greatest risk from RSV include:

• Infants six months and younger
• Children under the age of one who were born prematurely
• Children under two with chronic lung or heart disease
• Children with weakened immune systems, asthma, or other breathing difficulties
• Children with neuromuscular disorders and who have difficulty swallowing or clearing mucus secretion

If your child is younger than two and has any of the above risk factors, talk to their pediatrician about RSV.

A COVID-19-Safe Return to Class
As schools prepare to reopen for in-person instruction, the emergence of Delta and other variants means we must continue to employ caution. As of this writing, Marin’s COVID-19 policy for the 2021-2022 school year can be summarized as follows:

• Teachers, school employees, and students 12 and older must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination status. Weekly testing will be required for those 12 and older who remain unvaccinated. Any students or staff who develop COVID-19 symptoms should stay home and be tested. Those who test positive must stay home.
• Everyone will be required to wear a mask indoors, including vaccinated individuals. Outdoor masking is not currently mandated but that could change if cases surge in our area.
• There will be no restrictions on the number of youngsters who can ride the bus, but riders will be required to wear masks and windows should be open to increase airflow. Dances and assemblies will be allowed, with masking enforced.

The official, detailed version of Marin County’s back-to-school COVID-19 guidelines is available online, and we also recommend reviewing the latest CDC guidelines.

Post-Vacation Recommendations
After a year of sheltering in place, many families were eager to travel over summer vacation. Current guidelines recommended that unvaccinated students quarantine for seven days after returning home from a vacation, and get tested on the fifth day. Vaccinated students should test three to five days after returning home. While it’s unlikely that vaccinated people will become seriously ill, they can pick up the virus without knowing it and potentially infect others.

Prevention Remains the Best Medicine
To best protect your family from COVID-19 and other viruses, keep up the diligent handwashing your kiddos have gotten used to. If your child is over 12, talk to your pediatrician about any concerns you may have and get them vaccinated as soon as possible. If your kids are too young to be vaccinated, the best thing you can do to keep them safe is to make sure you—and any adults they interact with regularly—receive the vaccine, and ensure that your family continues masking in indoor public settings.

If you or your children do get sick, stay home. Get tested for COVID-19 if you think you may have been exposed, and especially if you’re showing symptoms. Make sure your child stays on schedule for routine medical checkups, and follow your pediatrician’s advice for all regular vaccinations—including the flu shot as we’re likely to see a return of flu this fall. Find a MarinHealth® pediatrician here.