St. Jude Pediatric Infectious Disease Expert Says Children Are in a Very Dangerous Moment: ​240% Increase in Childhood COVID-19 Cases Since July by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

New data from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows a 240 percent increase in COVID-19 cases since July in our nation’s children. Dr. Diego R. Hijano a pediatric infectious disease specialist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., is warning that unless we act now our kids are facing the most dangerous moment of their lifetimes.

“The message here cannot be more clear, all parents and eligible children should take steps today to receive the life-saving COVID-19 vaccine,” said Hijano, who specializes in infectious diseases in children and conducts research into the spread of respiratory viruses among pediatric populations.

“Our children are in a very, very dangerous moment and the Delta variant has proven, as predicted, to be the most highly transmittable strain of the virus we’ve yet faced. With less than half of the eligible adolescent population fully vaccinated, every American must do their part and take action now by getting vaccinated and masking up in public settings – or the situation is likely to get worse and our kids will continue to suffer.”

Dr. Hijano specializes in infectious diseases in children and conducts research into the spread of respiratory viruses among pediatric populations. The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) emergency use authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine covers every child 12 years old and up. The CDC Director reported yesterday the public health agency’s scientists are working on the COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than 12 and hope to have it available by the end of the year.

“As we await emergency use authorization of the COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than 12 years of age, those in close contact with them should be taking additional precautions such as masking up to protect them,” Dr. Hijano concluded.

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