Details:

Alternative Title:
Spring into Action
Corporate Authors:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Description:
Spring into Action

As we mark three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, cases, deaths, and hospitalizations have all been decreasing steadily. Much of the U.S. population has some form of immunity, either through vaccination or previous infection. In addition, CDC’s 2023 Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule now includes COVID-19 primary vaccine series and links to the latest guidance on booster dose vaccination in all populations.

Recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines for kids can be confusing. The pediatric vaccines and boosters were introduced by age group, and there are slightly different recommendations by manufacturer and for children who are immunocompromised. Children of different ages in the same family might not have the same COVID-19 vaccine schedules. The new guidance will make it easier to figure out if your kids are up to date or when they should get their next shot.

Regular checkups with a pediatrician provide the opportunity to prevent, screen for, and manage chronic conditions, and to get routine vaccinations for your kids, including COVID-19 vaccines. Your pediatrician can explain guidance and help make sure that your child is up to date with all vaccines. So put “make a pediatrician appointment” on top of your spring to-do list.

Note to Readers: COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review will publish its final issues on March 31, April 14, and May 12. Please visit CDC’s COVID Data Tracker for COVID-19 data, CDC’s Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET) for data on respiratory virus-associated hospitalizations, and CDC’s National Emergency Department Visits for COVID-19, Influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus dashboard for data on emergency department patient visits with diagnosed COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.


Content Notes:
It’s time to pick out your costume and get ready to celebrate Halloween! Over the past two-plus years, we’ve learned new ways to enjoy pandemic holidays, and “outside is always safer” has been the mantra for these holiday gatherings. Luckily, that’s easy to do on Halloween, because trick-or-treating generally involves plenty of outdoor time. But that doesn’t mean it’s totally risk-free. Here are some more tips for staying COVID-safe this Halloween.

• Stay home if you’re sick. Skip the Halloween party if you aren’t feeling well.

• Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms.

• Take precautions in crowded or indoor events as informed by your county’s COVID-19 Community Level, like wearing a high-quality mask (and Halloween masks don’t count). Consider making the mask part of the costume—like a doctor, nurse, ninja, or cowboy.

• If you’re hosting celebrations, review options for improving ventilation in your home. This can help you reduce virus particles in your home and keep COVID-19 from spreading.

• Keep your hands clean. If you’re out trick-or-treating, bring hand sanitizer. If you’re giving out candy, wash your hands frequently.

And of course, the best way to protect yourself and others from severe illness from COVID-19 on Halloween (and every day) is to stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccinations! Use this tool to find out when you can get a booster.

Note to Readers: On October 12, 2022, CDC recommended updated (bivalent) COVID-19 boosters for children ages 5 years and older in the United States, making the updated boosters available to millions of children in this age group.


Subject:
[+]
Child
Communicable Disease Control
Coronavirus Infections/prevention & Control
COVID-19
COVID-19 Vaccines
Infant
Local Government
Pandemics
Public Health
Public Health Practice
Vaccination

Series:
COVID data tracker weekly review : interpretative summary for March 17, 2023
Document Type:
Webpage
Collection(s):
Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:9d8d9f2d56bdc58ca05f56550664902b31bbbe10a87bbcbde0aba2812757c637
File Type:

Supporting Files

• 	index.html	htm
  	dashboard.html	htm
  	respiratory-illnesses	htm

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