Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has urged teens to get vaccinated and has asked their parents to talk to their kids about the importance of mask wearing as well as to encourage them to take COVID-19 vaccines. This statement from the head of the CDC comes as reports of adolescent’s hospitalizations and need for invasive mechanical interventions have risen in the first quarter of the year. Although no teenager has fatally succumbed to the infection, some of them have been severely affected.

Walensky also said that much of their suffering could be prevented if they took vaccines. She said that although there was positive data from the CDC signaling the end of the pandemic in the nation, everyone had to do their part by getting vaccinated so that the country could “cross the finishing line.”

The report from CDC showed that no teenager has died from a COVID-19 infection from January 1 to March 31. However, almost 33 percent of the adolescents in the 12 to 17 age group, who were infected with the coronavirus, had to be admitted to an intensive care unit. About 5 percent of these ICU patients needed intensive mechanical intervention. The report said that 204 teens were hospitalized.

Although the affected number of adolescents is less than adults the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, it is effective on teenagers and can be used to prevent these infections. The vaccine has gained Emergency Use Approval from the FDA and health authorities are encouraging teens to get vaccinated. The director of CDC has urged parents to speak to teens and motivate them to get vaccinated.

President Biden hopes to open the nation by July 4. The country needs 80 percent of its population to be vaccinated with at least one dose by this date. There have been several schemes, gifts, lotteries, free passes and more to get those who are hesitant to get vaccinated at the earliest.

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