Doctors recommend COVID-19 vaccination for children before returning to school

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Winter break is winding down, and students are expected to return to schools next week, as COVID-19 cases in children continue to climb.

Pediatricians say the trend will likely continue when class is back in session.

READ: Third COVID-19 testing site opens in Orange County as Florida reports almost 47K new cases

“If you had opted out before, I would recommend you talk to kids about wearing their mask,” said pediatrician Candice Jones. “In the past week or so, we have been seeing more cases of kids with fever, lots of cold symptoms. We’ve done more testing for COVID and we have had some positives.”

Nearly 200,000 more children tested positive for COVID-19 last week in the U.S., marking a 50% surge since the beginning of the month, according to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

WATCH: Central Florida hospitals beginning to feel omicron surge

The latest data from the Florida Hospital Association shows an uptick in pediatric COVID hospitalizations between Sunday and Tuesday.

“The message there is to parents and to all of us, is that kids can get COVID and kids can get sick with COVID,” Jones said. “And so if a child is sick enough to go to the emergency room and have to stay in the hospital, that’s serious.”

READ: Here’s where you can find COVID-19 testing in Central Florida

As of Thursday, Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando has four COVID positive patients, which is up from two last week.

Jones recommends getting your child vaccinated if they are eligible.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV.

©2021 Cox Media Group