What the COVID vaccine means for kids
Kids are often overlooked for many reasons during the pandemic. The most likely is that reason kids often get overlooked is that kids just aren’t at high risk of having a severe case of COVID. Of course, kids have struggled during the pandemic, just like all of us. The problem is that, unlike an adult, the trauma from the pandemic will stay with them for the rest of their lives. So let’s dive into why the COVID vaccine is such a big deal for kids.
1 — Online School is tough
Online school is super tough. If you’re an adult, you’ve probably felt zoom fatigue. For kids, it’s even tougher because they’re not well equipped for big changes. It’s easy to get distracted, and it completely removes social interaction with other kids, which can affect a kid’s physical and emotional health. According to Gianpiero Petriglieri, “being on a video call requires more focus than a face-to-face chat” (Jiang, 2020)
2 — Kids can see their friends again
For many students, friends can be the only major line of support. Loneliness is especially common among teenagers, who have already been at high risk of loneliness before the pandemic. According to the CDC, Social isolation is “a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity,” (CDC, 2021). This is highly concerning, considering the fact that teenage years are some of the most developmental years of a person’s life. Not only that but social isolation and loneliness can increase a person’s risk of suicidal thoughts and actions dramatically. It’s important that kids get the social interaction that they need for them to develop correctly.
3 — They get their lives back
This one is the biggest reason. Kids simply want their lives back. They’re tired of changing the way they live, it’s tough on them. I’m not going to cite a source here or give any evidence, I’m going to give my opinion. I’ve seen the devastating effects COVID has had on children, it’s ruined their lives. Oftentimes, they forget what they’re even doing this all for. I think we all want our lives back, but for kids, it’s everything.
As of the writing of this article, the COVID-19 vaccine has NOT been approved for 12–15-year-olds yet. We will update you as soon as it’s been approved.
