Novant Health UVA Health System Haymarket Medical Center issued the following announcement on June 3.
It's time for kids to return to camp.
For many kids, summer camp is a rite of passage. COVID-19 stopped that tradition in its tracks last summer. But now, as we’re easing into a world that’s opening up, camp can again be a reality – and an antidote to the age-old summer complaint of “I’m bored.”
It’s still best to proceed with some caution, advises Dr. Allison Hudson, lead physician at Novant Health Pediatrics Oak Hollow in High Point, North Carolina. We talked to the pediatrician about sending kids off at a still somewhat precarious time and how to help ensure they have a safe, happy experience.
Are you getting questions from parents about summer camp?
Absolutely. We're excited that this summer, kids can start to get out and socialize. That's so important for their growth and development. It’s important for us as adults, as well. So, we are eager for them to be able to do that but want them to do it safely. A lot of parents have questions about that.
There are guidelines for both overnight camps and day camps in childcare settings, and the guidelines change as the CDC issues new updates. There are resources from the CDC, as well as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for sleepaway and day camps.
The guidelines are simple and clear. They’re easy for camps to follow, and they're easy for parents to read, as well. They provide a good overview of what the process should look like, what to expect from camps, what parents should be doing and what camps should be doing.
Currently, the COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for kids 12 and older. If your child is 12 or over and fully vaccinated, can you send them to camp without hesitation?
First of all, I want to say that the CDC recommends the vaccine for kids 12 years old and up, and we highly recommend that, too. We are in favor of vaccinating anybody who’s eligible.
Anybody who has been fully vaccinated – meaning they are at least two weeks or more from their second vaccine or from a full vaccine series – is considered protected.
However, at both overnight and day camps, even vaccinated individuals should be wearing masks indoors.
What about a child who is too young to be vaccinated? Could that child still go to a summer camp and wear a mask?
People who have either chosen not to get a vaccine or children who are too young to get the vaccine can still participate in camp, but they will have more restrictions with mask wearing and social distancing. Camps have those guidelines from the CDC, as well as from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, that are designed to help protect children who cannot yet get a vaccine or who have chosen not to.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Novant Health UVA Health System Haymarket Medical Center
Alerts Sign-up