March 02, 2022
2 min read
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In light of new masking recommendations from the CDC, the AAP has updated its own masking guidance but says that masking is still an “important layer of protection” for children.
The updates come less than a week after the CDC released new COVID-19 guidance indicating that most Americans live in areas where they can go maskless, and nearly a month after the Democratic governors of several states, including New Jersey and Delaware, said that they will soon lift COVID-19 mask mandates in K-12 schools, joining other states that have already eliminated such measures. The latter move was criticized at the time by the AAP, with the organization’s spokesperson saying it was “too early” to lift the mandates.
The AAP says that masking is still an “important layer of protection” for children. Source: Adobe Stock
AAP President Moira Szilagyi, MD, PhD, FAAP said in a statement that although the CDC’s new approach was “reasonable,” masking would still be needed for some children.
“Pediatricians urge state and local policymakers to keep in mind the unique needs of children when considering COVID-19 mitigation measures,” Szilagyi said. “For some children — including those too young to be immunized and many with special health care needs — masking will still be an important layer of protection for a while longer. We encourage each family to make a plan that works best for them, while also modeling empathy and discouraging bullying of any child who chooses to mask to protect themselves and their family even when not required to do so.”
The AAP suggested in its statement that families consider certain factors in making their decisions about masking, including whether their child is aged between 2 and 5 years and currently ineligible for COVID-19 vaccination; whether their child is immunocompromised or may not have a protective immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine; if their child is not immunized; whether other members of their family are at higher risk for severe disease or are not immunized; or if they live in a community with high COVID-19 transmission.
“The toll of the pandemic has not been felt equally across racial or economic lines, and we must acknowledge these inequities as we help families navigate the right choices to keep themselves and their children safe and healthy,” Szilagyi said. “Families of children with special health care needs may also now be forced to stay home from school or other activities if universal masking goes away. One of the best ways to protect our communities is to encourage everyone aged 5 years and older to get vaccinated.”
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