Thread by @drlucymcbride

"It is time to recognize the myriad threats to children’s safety – beyond that of a single virus – and to appropriately balance these risks."

Proud to co-author this piece w/ virologist @DrScottBalsitis, peds psych MD @carol_psych & peds MD K Walsh 👇👇

usatoday.com/story/opinion/…

..As scientists & MDs, we are concerned that COVID mitigation measures for children are doing more harm than good. Too many policymakers have viewed health as the mere absence of COVID-19, putting children into a loop of mitigation measures that are uncoupled from actual risk. 🧵

...After two years of living with one disruption after another, the evidence is clear: The pandemic & the loss of normalcy are taking a tremendous toll on students, with the data on mental health being particularly alarming...

...The @AmerAcadPeds has declared a #mentalhealth emergency in children. As the @Surgeon_General recently highlighted, combined analyses of 80K children found that symptoms of depression & anxiety have doubled among young ppl during the pandemic...

...Vaccination is our most effective tool against COVID-19, & vaccines are retaining efficacy where it counts. With omicron, we can expect numerous mild infections in vaccinated people, but the vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths are among unvaccinated adults....

....Teachers, parents & caregivers remain well-protected by vaccination, and one booster dose provides additional protection for those who are over age 65 or at additional risk....

...One-way masking with N95-type respirators protects the wearer, and N95s are now widely available for people who desire a higher level of protection against COVID-19....

...It’s time we realize that mild corona infections are inevitable & not apocalyptic & focus on preventing severe cases. W omicron declining in many parts of the country, preserving in-person learning, de-escalating fear & making a concerted effort to resume normalcy are critical

...It’s time to shift our focus away from masks and onto the faces behind them. Mandatory masking policies are the most visible COVID mitigation interventions in schools...

...We have reviewed the data on school masking & find that well-controlled real-world studies consistently fail to find a convincing benefit, while studies cited to support masking have serious flaws...

...When an intervention’s possible benefits are too small to measure and the harms are increasingly evident, it is appropriate to end its *mandatory* use...

...COVID is here to stay, & although we can mitigate risk, we cannot eliminate it. Though we have effective vaccines against COVID’s worst outcomes, no one is immune to 2 years of life interrupted...

..An urgent return to normal school, without mandatory masking, is critical for our kids’ health and wellbeing.../end

without the paywall:
yahoo.com/lifestyle/kids…