How to Protect Young Children From Omicron

The highly contagious variant of omicron is sweeping the United States, accounting for more than 95 percent of new coronavirus infections. While most people who are vaccinated are well protected from severe illness, children under the age of five, who are not yet eligible for vaccination, are at greater risk of contracting the coronavirus than in the earlier stages of the pandemic.

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This is because the margin of error of omicron is much smaller than the previous variant. Practically every activity is more dangerous. In addition, almost everywhere the opportunity to meet people infected with the Corona virus is much greater.

I worry about this every day because of my 4 year old son and 21 month old daughter. Here are some steps my family has taken — and that I recommend to others — to protect young children:

Surround unvaccinated young children with people who have been optimally vaccinated. The concept of herd immunity is that the rest of the "herd" develops immune protection which then protects some of the most vulnerable individuals. Everyone who comes into contact with young children must be vaccinated, and once they are eligible, they must be vaccinated.

This includes all those who care for the child, such as visiting grandparents, aunts and uncles; Preschool teacher and occasional caregiver. This also includes older siblings. Less than 1 in 4 children aged 5 to 11 years receive up to one dose of the vaccine. Ensuring that all school-age children have immunity will reduce their risk of exposure to oomicrons and spreading them to other family members.

Upgrade and wear masks in all public places and indoors. As I wrote in the previous column, it's time for the mask game. Single ply cloth masks do not provide adequate protection against Omicron.

All adults should switch to a high-quality N95, KN95, or KF94 mask. This CNN article goes into more detail on why, and The New York Times Wirecutter is an excellent resource for purchasing these masks. NBC News has recommendations for respirator masks for children.

My son had a hard time wearing the KN95 mask, but he was able to wear the medical grade 3-ply surgical mask without any problems and still wear it in preschool. My daughter can't be trusted to wear a mask, so I limit her exposure to vaccinated caregivers and don't take her with me to drugstores, grocery stores, and other places where she might be surrounded by unvaccinated and unvaccinated people.

You have no indoor play dates. Keep in mind that the risks are cumulative, so consider your family's overall exposure and prioritize the activities that are most important. For many parents, childcare is very important, and younger children may need to be in daycare with other children who are not masked. Parents may have to work alone, and older siblings may have to attend school. Accept all these necessary risks, then work to reduce the "optional" risks.

Now is not the time to hold internal meetings with other vulnerable people. I know it's cold outside, but children can still play outdoors, where the risk of transmission is much lower. I would also avoid eating in indoor restaurants, which is risky because you're surrounded by unmasked people and you can't wear a mask while eating.

Due to the high prevalence and transmission of omicron, younger children may still be infected with MERS-CoV despite all these precautions. Most will have mild symptoms and resolve without incident. However, many families - including mine - choose to be vigilant and take reasonable action to reduce risk while continuing with the activities that matter most.