Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Vaccinated Adults, Unvaccinated Children & Long COVID

    Posted 05-01-2021 12:53 PM
    Dear Early Care and Education Colleagues,

    I hope you and your families are all well.
    Below are links to a recent opinion piece in the New York Times and an article in the NewScientist related to vaccinated adults, children and COVID:

    What Do You do When the Kids Are Still Unvaccinated by David Leonhardt (Note: this is an OPINION piece that also includes information from medical experts. Access to this piece may or may not be restricted by the NY Times)

    Children with Long COVID by Helen Thomson (Note: the article includes research data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention & Control)

    As with all things COVID, medical experts, the US Center for Disease Control, and researchers continue to learn about possible COVID risks to and impacts on children. (i.e. we must continue to keep ourselves informed about the latest research and recommendations related to children and COVID)

    Be well,
    Alan





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    Alan Guttman
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  • 2.  RE: Vaccinated Adults, Unvaccinated Children & Long COVID

    Posted 05-04-2021 02:24 PM
    Thanks for this Alan - very useful articles!! 
    We are just trying to think about making adjustments to our protocols to respond to the increased vaccination rates. I would love to know what other people are thinking. 
    For instance: 
    1. We require a child to stay home if a parent travels. The child stays home for 6 days and the traveler tests on day 6. Child can return with negative test result for traveler. Can we suspend that child's quarantine if the traveler is vaccinated? If the child travels, they would be required to quarantine. 
    2. We require that a child stay home 7 days  if someone in the household is exposed. If the person exposed is vaccinated can we suspend that quarantine? If the child is exposed, they would still have to quarantine.
    3. Are other schools requiring staff to be vaccinated? in fact, can we? 
    4. Will schools ask parents to provide proof of vaccination in order to waive quarantine? 

    Looking forward to hearing what people are thinking.

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    Anne Rothe
    Director
    Key Biscayne Presbyterian School
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  • 3.  RE: Vaccinated Adults, Unvaccinated Children & Long COVID

    Posted 05-05-2021 01:28 PM
    Hi Allen, 
        This article is a great article and the reason being we all needs to know about the vaccine as much as possible and what's going on. I often have to tell my kids even though we get vaccinated to still be careful and protective. Thank you!

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    Shonda Wilson
    Owner
    Creative Learning Academy LLC
    Quincy FL
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  • 4.  RE: Vaccinated Adults, Unvaccinated Children & Long COVID

    Posted 05-05-2021 07:11 PM
    Dear Shonda,
    I hope you and your family are all well, and thank YOU! for being a responsible adult who cares for children (and adults) in your practice. And how ironic that it's easier for children, than for some adults, to understand the importance of following rules to keep others safe. Kudos to you AND your children!
    Alan

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    Alan Guttman
    Baltimore MD
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  • 5.  RE: Vaccinated Adults, Unvaccinated Children & Long COVID

    Posted 05-06-2021 11:37 AM
    I love the balanced perspective in the Unvaccinated Article. We, as early care educators and advocates, need to weigh the long term effects of isolating children. Our highest functioning, well off families have options to help their children cope. But what about our most vulnerable families, and children from families with high stress factors. The mental health of the children needs to take priority as center resume with safety protocols.

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    Christina Roseli
    ECLS
    El Dorado County Library
    Oxnard CA
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  • 6.  RE: Vaccinated Adults, Unvaccinated Children & Long COVID

    Posted 05-06-2021 12:02 PM
    In Texas, our Governor lifted the mandatory statewide mask order at the beginning of April.  However Texas Childcare Licensing had issued "Emergency Orders" in December of 2020 and those orders were not set to expire until April 26th.  Childcare licensing did not send anything out to us after the Governor's announcement so we had to continue with the Emergency Orders until they expired.  Now that they have expired, we are still waiting on clarification as to whether we have to continue to require masks to be worn inside the building buy adults and teachers.  As of this Monday we will no longer require our Pre-School and Pre-K students to wear mask inside the building, but our after-school age students will be required to wear them inside until June 1st, which is when our local district is going to make masks optional in all their school locations.  1/2 our staff have been vaccinated and 1/2 our staff have not.  The half that are not vaccinated say they are scared of the vaccine.  We have no way of knowing which of our parents have been vaccinated.

    Ironically I had a potential new family come this morning for a tour and at the end of the tour, they asked what is our childhood vaccination policy.  Their child is 3 years old and has only been partially vaccinated for the standard childhood vaccines and the mother does not want her child to receive the remaining required vaccines.  Our policy is that all children must be update on their vaccines when they start with us and must continue to updated on their vaccines through the years as they stay with us.  We do not except waivers or exemptions on vaccines.  Needless to say, I don't think they will be enrolling with us, but it got me to thinking what is going to happen, once they do develop an approved vaccine for children.  If the Feds or States make it mandatory, how many parents will not feel comfortable giving their child the vaccine and where will that leave us if we have to deny them services because of a mandate?

    As a licensed program, we have received nothing but conflicting and contradictory information, mandates and orders since day one in March of 2020 from the Feds, State, and local officials as well as other over site organizations related to childcare.

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    Tim Kaminski
    Director/Owner
    Gingerbread Kids Academy
    Richmond TX
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  • 7.  RE: Vaccinated Adults, Unvaccinated Children & Long COVID

    Posted 05-06-2021 02:52 PM
    Also, while the limited risks and side effects from the vaccines continue to be documented, the expansive and serious risks of not being vaccinated are clearly and tragically borne out in the millions of global deaths and hospitalizations. The unvaccinated, including adults and children who are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine, will continue to be at risk themselves and to pose potential risks to others. Finally, most epidemiologists currently agree that "herd immunity", like that reached for polio, will most likely NOT be reached for COVID-19, especially given the current number of unvaccinated adults and children.
    Alan

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    Alan Guttman
    Baltimore MD
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  • 8.  RE: Vaccinated Adults, Unvaccinated Children & Long COVID

    Posted 05-06-2021 12:57 PM
    Christina - yes, agreed. And I would add that for children and families, whether "well off" or "vulnerable", that there should be no absolute priorities (e.g. child mental health), as children and family members with compromised immune systems or comorbidities, may need to set individual priorities based on their unique physical risks as well.
    Alan

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    Alan Guttman
    Baltimore MD
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