TY - JOUR
T1 - Policies on children and schools during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Western Europe
AU - Soriano-Arandes, Antoni
AU - Brett, Ana
AU - Buonsenso, Danilo
AU - Emilsson, Louise
AU - de la Fuente Garcia, Isabel
AU - Gkentzi, Despoina
AU - Helve, Otto
AU - Kepp, Kasper P.
AU - Mossberg, Maria
AU - Muka, Taulant
AU - Munro, Alasdair
AU - Papan, Cihan
AU - Perramon-Malavez, Aida
AU - Schaltz-Buchholzer, Frederik
AU - Smeesters, Pierre R.
AU - Zimmermann, Petra
N1 - 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.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - children
KW - COVID-19
KW - masks
KW - mitigation
KW - school closure
KW - testing
KW - vaccination
KW - ventilation
U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1175444
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1175444
M3 - Review article
C2 - 37564427
AN - SCOPUS:85167363072
SN - 2296-2565
VL - 11
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
JF - Frontiers in Public Health
M1 - 1175444
ER -