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Policies on children and schools during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Western Europe

Soriano-Arandes, Antoni ; Brett, Ana ; Buonsenso, Danilo ; Emilsson, Louise ; de la Fuente Garcia, Isabel ; Gkentzi, Despoina ; Helve, Otto ; Kepp, Kasper P. ; Mossberg, Maria LU and Muka, Taulant , et al. (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.

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organization
publishing date
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}},
}