Recommendations on masking from Lakeside Pediatrics:

Masks for our children 11 and under remain an important protection for your child, your family, and your children’s school.

Masks rules have changed, and sooner than we had thought.  What a relief—for some of us.

Following CDC and Vermont Guidelines, we must wear a mask until 2 weeks following your COVID-19 vaccination.  Young children are not likely to be vaccinated until late this year at the earliest.  We urge that you continue to help your children wear their masks for these next few months.

At Lakeside Pediatrics we rely on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for the best COVID-19 safety guidance for infants, children and adolescents.  In consultation with the CDC, its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the FDA, and others the AAP is the authority on COVID-19 treatment and prevention for our youth.  Dr. Yvonne Maldonado of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases recommends:

“Until younger children are eligible to be vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine, they should continue to wear face masks when they are in public and around other people. We know children over age 2 can safely wear masks to protect themselves and others from transmitting the COVID-19 virus. We’ve already seen how the masks have helped prevent the spread of respiratory infections within schools, camps and other community settings, particularly when everyone wears them, washes hands and follows other infection control guidance.

“We are excited that teens age 12 and older can now receive the Pfizer vaccine. As more people are vaccinated and community rates of infection go down, it will be safer for all of us to return to life closer to “normal.”

Masking is necessary to protect our children.  On social media and in many public conversations some confusion exists regarding the severity and spread of COVID-19 infection in children.  Thankfully, they are at less risk than we had feared, but to date there have been over 14,000 children hospitalized and nearly 300 deaths due to COVID-19.  This is a severe illness for many children.

We urge that you have your children continue to wear their face masks in public, in school, for group sports, and around other people.  Masks continue to be required in certain public places–hospitals and medical offices—and we will continue to mask at Lakeside Pediatrics.