“In March of 2020, when the world was living in fear of the unknown virus, I remember being relieved that the disease affected adults more than children.

With the delta variant, that relief is gone. We’re seeing an increase in pediatric COVID-19 cases with no end in sight unless more Idahoans get vaccinated. 

More than one in 10 positive cases in Idaho are now children. From January to July of this year, pediatric admissions at St. Luke’s averaged five per month. In August it rose to 12, and to 26 in September.

The children needing hospitalization are disproportionately already struggling with medical issues like cancer, congenital heart disease, seizure disorders, immune deficiencies, and Down syndrome. One is a 2-week-old infant born more than three months early. In the U.S., 460 children have died from COVID-19, compared to the 690,000 plus total. 

But since when has the death of even one child been OK when we have the ability to prevent it?”