Policies on children and schools during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Western Europe
(2023) In Frontiers in Public Health 11.- Abstract
During the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), mitigation policies for children have been a topic of considerable uncertainty and debate. Although some children have co-morbidities which increase their risk for severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and complications such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome and long COVID, most children only get mild COVID-19. On the other hand, consistent evidence shows that mass mitigation measures had enormous adverse impacts on children. A central question can thus be posed: What amount of mitigation should children bear, in response to a disease that is disproportionally affecting older people? In this review, we analyze the distinct child versus adult... (More)
During the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), mitigation policies for children have been a topic of considerable uncertainty and debate. Although some children have co-morbidities which increase their risk for severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and complications such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome and long COVID, most children only get mild COVID-19. On the other hand, consistent evidence shows that mass mitigation measures had enormous adverse impacts on children. A central question can thus be posed: What amount of mitigation should children bear, in response to a disease that is disproportionally affecting older people? In this review, we analyze the distinct child versus adult epidemiology, policies, mitigation trade-offs and outcomes in children in Western Europe. The highly heterogenous European policies applied to children compared to adults did not lead to significant measurable differences in outcomes. Remarkably, the relative epidemiological importance of transmission from school-age children to other age groups remains uncertain, with current evidence suggesting that schools often follow, rather than lead, community transmission. Important learning points for future pandemics are summarized.
(Less)
- author
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- children, COVID-19, masks, mitigation, school closure, testing, vaccination, ventilation
- in
- Frontiers in Public Health
- volume
- 11
- article number
- 1175444
- publisher
- Frontiers Media S. A.
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:37564427
- scopus:85167363072
- ISSN
- 2296-2565
- DOI
- 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1175444
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2023 Soriano-Arandes, Brett, Buonsenso, Emilsson, de la Fuente Garcia, Gkentzi, Helve, Kepp, Mossberg, Muka, Munro, Papan, Perramon-Malavez, Schaltz-Buchholzer, Smeesters and Zimmermann.
- id
- e72d321f-b2a9-4046-9712-8d9434c3bb2c
- date added to LUP
- 2024-01-15 15:33:46
- date last changed
- 2024-04-16 02:00:22
@article{e72d321f-b2a9-4046-9712-8d9434c3bb2c, abstract = {{<p>During the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), mitigation policies for children have been a topic of considerable uncertainty and debate. Although some children have co-morbidities which increase their risk for severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and complications such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome and long COVID, most children only get mild COVID-19. On the other hand, consistent evidence shows that mass mitigation measures had enormous adverse impacts on children. A central question can thus be posed: What amount of mitigation should children bear, in response to a disease that is disproportionally affecting older people? In this review, we analyze the distinct child versus adult epidemiology, policies, mitigation trade-offs and outcomes in children in Western Europe. The highly heterogenous European policies applied to children compared to adults did not lead to significant measurable differences in outcomes. Remarkably, the relative epidemiological importance of transmission from school-age children to other age groups remains uncertain, with current evidence suggesting that schools often follow, rather than lead, community transmission. Important learning points for future pandemics are summarized.</p>}}, author = {{Soriano-Arandes, Antoni and Brett, Ana and Buonsenso, Danilo and Emilsson, Louise and de la Fuente Garcia, Isabel and Gkentzi, Despoina and Helve, Otto and Kepp, Kasper P. and Mossberg, Maria and Muka, Taulant and Munro, Alasdair and Papan, Cihan and Perramon-Malavez, Aida and Schaltz-Buchholzer, Frederik and Smeesters, Pierre R. and Zimmermann, Petra}}, issn = {{2296-2565}}, keywords = {{children; COVID-19; masks; mitigation; school closure; testing; vaccination; ventilation}}, language = {{eng}}, publisher = {{Frontiers Media S. A.}}, series = {{Frontiers in Public Health}}, title = {{Policies on children and schools during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Western Europe}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1175444}}, doi = {{10.3389/fpubh.2023.1175444}}, volume = {{11}}, year = {{2023}}, }