When COVID-19 restrictions began to ease a few months ago, my family was thrilled to finally resume our social life. This meant taking my four-year-old daughter to the zoo, enjoying her first movie in a theater, and dining out together as a family. With my husband and I fully vaccinated, we felt safe engaging in these activities. However, since there is still no vaccine available for children under 12, we continue to wear masks and use hand sanitizer to shield our daughter from the virus.
Reassessing Our Social Plans
Then came the Delta, Lambda, and other variants—more contagious mutations of the original virus. The Delta variant, in particular, has proven to be alarmingly severe, with the CDC comparing its transmissibility to that of chickenpox. I can’t help but be grateful for the chickenpox vaccine that protects my child from those painful, itchy spots.
Now, with these new variants spreading in our communities, I find myself reconsidering our social activities. Is it safe to take my daughter grocery shopping? Should we avoid indoor dining altogether? It’s disheartening to navigate these decisions after having been cooped up for over a year and a half. If the situation continues to deteriorate due to vaccine refusal, we may find ourselves isolating once more.
What frustrates me most is knowing that we likely wouldn’t be in this predicament if more people had chosen to get vaccinated. Imagine if everyone who could have received the vaccine had done so at the beginning; we might have prevented the spread of the virus and its dangerous mutations, and I wouldn’t be worried for my daughter’s safety.
Delta Variant’s Impact on Young People
The Delta variant poses a particularly significant threat to younger individuals, especially those aged 18-49, and even young children like my daughter are now being hospitalized due to COVID-19. Dr. Alex Thompson, an emergency medicine physician, reports an increase in pediatric COVID-19 cases in his hospital, often linked to unvaccinated family members.
In one recent case, a child had to be hospitalized because the mother was vaccinated, but her partner refused the vaccine. Dr. Thompson noted that they are seeing healthy, unvaccinated individuals in their 20s and 30s experiencing severe respiratory distress due to the virus. Our intensive care units are filling up again, and many of these patients may face long-term complications.
Dr. Maria Johnson, another emergency physician, expressed concern about the rise in viral symptoms among children since social restrictions began to ease. As a mother of young children who aren’t yet eligible for vaccination, she worries about potential exposure, despite being vaccinated herself.
The Vaccination Gap
Globally, approximately 4 billion out of 7.9 billion people have received a vaccine. However, only about 1 billion are fully vaccinated. In the U.S., around 50% of the population is fully vaccinated, with significant disparities among different racial and ethnic groups. Vaccination rates among Black, Hispanic, Latino, indigenous, and other people of color fall behind those of their white counterparts, often due to access issues and a lack of trust stemming from systemic injustices.
Even among white adults, particularly in rural areas, a notable portion remains unvaccinated. Dr. Thompson has had numerous discussions with hesitant patients, emphasizing that contracting COVID-19 is far riskier than receiving the vaccine.
Dr. Emily Roberts concurs, explaining that while breakthrough cases do occur, vaccinated individuals typically experience milder symptoms and are less likely to require hospitalization. The best defense against the virus and its variants is vaccination.
The Call to Action
My husband and I were among the first to get vaccinated, but it pains me to see close friends and family still unvaccinated. I’ve heard various excuses, from “I’m not that worried” to “I’ll wait until it’s fully approved.” With billions vaccinated and millions dead globally, the need for action is urgent.
For those concerned about emergency use authorization, I urge you to investigate the thorough clinical trials that have been conducted. The process of developing and testing vaccines is comprehensive and far from casual. Remaining unvaccinated now equates to playing Russian roulette. I encourage everyone to take that step and get vaccinated for the sake of yourselves, your families, and our children. For more information on finding a COVID-19 vaccine near you, visit vaccines.gov.
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In summary, my concerns for my daughter’s safety stem from the ongoing challenges posed by vaccine hesitancy and the emergence of dangerous COVID-19 variants. It’s crucial for everyone eligible to get vaccinated to protect not only themselves but also the most vulnerable among us.