Why Are We Boosting Kids? – Common Sense
We have been exceptionally lucky that Covid-19 largely spares the young. This isn t to say that the virus hasn t brought tragedy to some families. But we should keep perspective: More children have died or been hospitalized from the flu in many seasons, than have from Covid in each of the past two years.
And yet, for those two years, many young Americans have been robbed of normal schooling and normal interactions with their peers. We have demanded that young people bear the heaviest burden of our policies for the sake of those who are more vulnerable.
Now we risk asking them to sacrifice even more.
Earlier this month, the CDC and the FDA approved Covid vaccine boosters for children as young as 12. (Until recently, only those 16 and older were eligible for a third dose.) Federal officials celebrated this as excellent news. They insist that the key to children s safety, and being able to resume normal life, is near-universal and, apparently, repeated vaccination. Young people are not merely able to get a third dose. The CDC obliges them to do so with its language should receive a booster.
It s not just the CDC.
There are signs that state and local governments are mandating a third Covid shot for kids as a condition to participate in society. New York state has already upped its guidance, saying that if kids are 12 or older and exposed to a positive individual, only those who are boosted will be allowed to play sports and participate in extracurricular activities; all other kids will be quarantined. Hawaii s governor said he is planning to require boosters for visitors. Other states are likely to follow suit.
This is unwise and likely to further diminish the already degraded trust in our governmental institutions and public health authorities.
I’ve mostly stayed out of the vaccine debate because I’m far from an expert on vaccines. I trust my doctor and annoy my medical spouse with lots of questions. I do my research, make up my own mind, and do whatever she says. My youngest is also 18. But it really does seem that many people in the US, and especially blue state governments, are completely losing their minds with pushing the covid vaccine on little kids when there seems precious little medical reason for doing it. I’m glad we don’t have a small child in school in California these days. Then there’s the whole mask nonsense. We might have had to move to Florida and fend off the palmetto bugs and cottonmouths.