What if my child is too young for a vaccine in this omicron era? Here’s what one pediatrician says

What if my child is too young for a COVID-19 vaccine? What should I do if they contract the coronavirus? How can I keep my children safe at school? How can I encourage them to wear masks? How can I educate them about the pandemic?

As record-setting cases of the coronavirus trend across the state, many in Illinois are still ineligible, namely those younger than 5, for a COVID-19 vaccine, which has been proven to help reduce the risk of severe cases, hospitalization and death.

As the omicron variant of the virus continues to surge, Illinois parents could be wondering how to best help their young children without vaccination immunity reduce the risk of contracting the virus.

The youngest population, namely those 5 and younger, are still not able to get a vaccine, as trials for young children and infants remain ongoing.

[ How to order 4 free, at-home COVID tests right now ]

During the week of Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that more than 5 in every 100,000 hospitalized children ages 0 to 4 were infected with COVID-19, which is nearly double the rate reported in early December before the omicron began to take over.

According to the CDC, COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of people getting severe cases of COVID-19 and can also reduce the risk of spreading it.

The CDC states that the best way to protect unvaccinated members, including children age 4 and younger who cannot get vaccinated yet, is by having everyone else eligible in your family who is 5 years and older get vaccinated, and to practice consistent mask wearing.

Dr. Mayuri Morker, a pediatrician with Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group in Sycamore, spoke with Daily Chronicle reporter Katrina Milton about what to do if your child is too young to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

[ Think you have COVID-19? Here’s when to test, how to isolate and what you should know ]

Milton: Is sending your child to preschool safe?

Morker: It’s something each family has to discuss to see what works the best for them. Who will watch the child during working time? Help facilitate a safe daycare process by advising your child to wear a mask, guide them how to check for symptoms. You have to ask if daycare is something you feel comfortable with. Daycares and preschools have enriched programs to help learn social interaction with kids their own age and social cues. Each family has to decide what they’re comfortable with.

Milton: How do I isolate my children away from each other if one tests positive?

Morker: You have to gauge the development stage of your children. If they’re 2 years old and 4 years old, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to separate the two. You can’t be in two places at the same time. If you’re not going to be able to isolate, quarantine together as a family for a longer time and monitor your symptoms. You can socially distance and wear masks, but when your children are young, true isolation is not achievable at that age. If you have older children, teenagers, it’s more feasible to keep them in their own room with their own bathroom.

Milton: What symptoms should I look for in my children, and when does a symptom need to get tested for COVID-19?

Morker: In an adult, the loss of taste or smell is easily identifiable. In younger kids, it’s difficult to gauge loss of those senses and symptoms are even more milder and more generic. Symptoms are similar to common colds: fever, sore throat, belly aches, cough. It’s difficult to differentiate. Talk to your primary care provider about exposure [to positive cases], if symptoms are consistent for a couple of days and when to test your child.

[ Do my symptoms mean COVID-19? Try the CDC's Coronavirus Self-Checker ]

Milton: Are there other viral infections that cause coughing?

Morker: There are a lot of viruses that can cause coughing, including croup, RSV (respiratory syncytial), influenza and COVID. If it’s a virus, there’s no treatment but supportive treatment. There’s a respiratory viral panel exam that can test for specific viruses to help guide, but you have to let it run its course. We’re now more concerned about what the virus is to make sure we’re not putting others at risk, and we’re making not getting multiple viruses at once a priority.

Milton: What can I do to try to keep my child safe at school or other places?

Morker: If hygiene and social distancing practices are in effect, school is not a high-risk place of infection. If everyone wears a mask, whether they’re vaccinated or unvaccinated, if there’s cleaning and sterilizing, and you’re limiting the number of people you’re in contact with, if you’re managing some of those, that’s the best way to cut down transmission. You also have to communicate positively about hygiene and safety with your child. Practice the best safe practices you can, teach them how to monitor their symptoms, wear masks, wash hands and keep your distance from others.

[ Need to show proof of COVID-19 test for work or daycare? Here’s the new way to do it, say health officials ]

Milton: Do you recommend vaccination?

Morker: Anyone that can be vaccinated should be vaccinated. Ages 5 to 11 were approved in November for a smaller dose than teenagers and adults. It’s a very, very safe vaccine. Unfortunately, we’re still seeing a lot of hesitancy. Please talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Everyone getting their vaccines is what will help bring us out of this.

Milton: Can babies get COVID-19?

Morker: Anybody can get COVID, from week-old babies to older adults. Studies are still being done about COVID in utero. Some pregnant moms are positive for COVID, and once the baby is born, they transmit it after birth. Some children have minimal to no symptoms. Others get sick and are hospitalized. All ages can get COVID.

Milton: Should I give my COVID-positive child any medication? When should I seek medical advice?

Morker: It’s a viral process, so there’s really no treatment. There have been a lot of antivirals tried and tested in adults, but nothing has been approved yet for children. I would recommend Tylenol or Motrin for fever management, good hydration and nutrition and rest. Seek medical care if your child is in respiratory distress or having trouble breathing. If the symptoms persist or get worse, it’s definitely time to reach out to your healthcare provider to have them listen to their lungs to make sure nothing else is going on.

Milton: How has the pandemic changed your pediatric office?

Morker: We had to change our practice because there’s so much need. In our county, ERs and convenient care centers have an exorbitant amount of wait. It’s also been busier in doctors’ offices. If you can, try TeleHealth over in-person visits. If you’re not able to wait and it’s urgent, go to convenient care. We try to see as many of our patients as we can in our office to the best of our abilities. Volumes have gone up. Winter is cold and flu season to begin with, and this COVID surge has definitely been tipping us over.

Milton: How do we approach the topic of the pandemic with children?

Morker: It’s a process we’re all learning, and I don’t want parents to get frustrated. We’re all learning and growing and getting through this together. Our mutual goal is to keep our children healthy. Just follow some simple practices: wear a mask, social distance, when you’re able to get a vaccine, get a vaccine. We don’t want our kids to have a fear of socialization. If we do have to get tested, or if we test positive, it’s not the end of the world. Talk them through the process so they’re not cavalier about wearing their masks, but also not that they think it’s World War III and they’re afraid to talk to their friends. Children are very adaptable. If they see everyone else wearing a mask and following the rules and they’re expected to, too, they will.

Milton: Has it been difficult to get young children to wear facial masks?

Morker: There aren’t too many instances where they’re complaining and take off their mask. There are children as young as 2 at daycare that have no problems wearing it. We have to support their mask-wearing and be honest and informative with them. That really helps children understand the importance of wearing a mask.

[ Local pediatrician says making masks optional in schools is ‘disservice to community’ ]

Milton: Is getting COVID-19 at some point inevitable?

Morker: You can’t guarantee that you won’t get COVID, even if you bubble yourself in your house. Our hope is that COVID becomes an endemic, like the flu, that comes every season but is more manageable, so that there are not overwhelming surges in the hospitals or severe cases. There’s an assumption that everyone will get COVID at some point and their bodies will have some resistance against the virus for the future, especially after vaccination.

Milton: What else would you want parents to know?

Morker: Do not forget your child’s well checks or get behind on growth and development and vaccines. Some parents were not comfortable visiting the doctor when COVID first started, but it’s been almost two years. You have to make sure their growth and development are not being compromised. We continue to see all of our patients for well checks, vaccines and to make sure they stay healthy and have overall general health.