Thread by @chrischirp

So, we're back - as predicted in mid Dec (!) - in two epidemics - a growing one in children (& flat in their parents' generation) and declining in everyone else.

Unvaxxed children in schools have highest and fastest growing rates - ie 5-9 yr olds. Cases >2x higher than Dec. 1/5

And equally, while hospital admissions fall in adults, they are higher than ever and rising in children.

While most admissions are short and children recovering quickly, they are still sick enough to come to hospital.

We don't know about Omicron & PMS-TS, Long Covid etc 2/5

Most other high income countries are far ahead of us in vaccinating teens and 5-11 year olds.

We know the vaccines are safe and protect against severe illness. SAGE reported that recent teen Covid admissions to ICU were all unvaccinated. 3/5

We have failed to protect kids by not investing in cleaner air in schools - progress is glacial.

We have failed to protect kids by removing mask requirements.

We have failed to protect kids by not even allowing the option of 5-11 yr vaccine for most kids. 4/5

We have failed to protect their education - there is mass disruption as kids & teachers fall sick. There is so much uncertainty, it is hard to plan.

This was all predictable and yet here we are. We must reinstate masks (ideally FFP2), invest in clear air & encourage vax! 5/5

PS here is the article @adsquires & I wrote for @bmj_latest in December higlighting these issues.

bmj.com/content/bmj/37…

It followed on from one I wrote in *August* along same lines. We keep wasting time...