Kern County doctors explain the importance of COVID booster for children

COVID-19 is a leading cause of death in America

Posted: 5:24 PM, Jan 20, 2022 Updated: 12:54 PM, Jan 31, 2022. By: Breanna Polk, 23ABC , Anthony Wright, 23ABC. Anu Rao, MD, Omni Family Health Pediatrician.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 75% of all Americans have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, but there’s still concern over vaccinations including when and if children should receive the booster shot.

Dr. Anuradha Rao with Omni Family Health asked, “They can transmit the disease to their grandparents, their parents, their relatives who are susceptible. And with all the school absences and lack of playdates and lack of extracurricular activity and sports. Wouldn’t it be great to have immunity against the disease?”

But what is considered a healthy child?

“Kids who don’t have underlying illnesses like asthma or diabetes or immunological problems where their immune system is suppressed like cancer,” explained Dr. Rao.

But Dr. Rao says that doesn’t mean healthy children aren’t susceptible to the virus. “There can be perfectly healthy children who get a case of COVID. Most of them thank God do well, but there are also several who have died. Right now COVID is in the top ten list of causes of death of children in the United States.”