The Impact of Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccination on Family Travel
In the US, children ages 5 to 11 are now eligible to receive Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, and across the country, the rollout is in full swing. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced its recommendation on November 2, expanding eligibility to around 28 million kids. This development paves the way for lower-risk family vacations to resume, particularly ahead of the winter holiday season. Here’s what this news could mean for your travel plans.
How Will This Affect Travel?
For both domestic and international travel, the CDC recommends waiting until individuals are fully vaccinated. Full vaccination implies that it has been a minimum of two weeks since the second dose. Given that children must receive their second shot three weeks after the first, many families may find Thanksgiving travel premature. Nevertheless, by December, a significant number of fully vaccinated families could be prepared to hit the road.
Multiple travel agents told the industry site Skift that an increase in family travel, particularly by air, is expected as more children receive their vaccinations. However, this transition will not occur overnight. “Certainly the vaccine has opened up the door for families to travel again, but it is very subjective and based on personal comfort—it’s not an automatic ‘everyone’s good to go’,” stated Family Travel Association founder Rainer Jenss.
Traveling During the Winter Holidays
Jennifer Hardy of Cruise Planners remarked, “The approval comes too close to winter break, knowing that people are only considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose.” Thus, while local family gatherings may increase, parents may be hesitant about international travel, cruises, and other destination-focused vacations.
It is crucial to acknowledge that, like adults, children can experience long-term effects from COVID-19 and potentially transmit the virus to others. According to data from the CDC, as of October 26, there were more than 8,300 hospitalizations in the US’s 5-to-11 age group—approximately a third of which involved the ICU—and 94 deaths due to COVID-19.
However, just the knowledge that the vaccine offers some degree of protection can provide peace of mind for parents contemplating travel plans.
Traveling with Kids Under 5 Years Old
For families with children too young to be vaccinated, especially those unable to wear masks, certain precautions can enhance safety. Measures such as taking COVID-19 tests and quarantining before visiting high-risk relatives may be advisable. Pediatrician Dr. Vijay Prasad suggests, “For children who are too young to be vaccinated, I would recommend self-quarantining if they are going to be in contact with anyone else unvaccinated, elderly, or with chronic health issues.”
Moreover, it is pivotal to ensure that everyone eligible who will be around unvaccinated children is vaccinated. Dr. Ibukun C. Kalu, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Duke University, emphasizes the importance of handwashing and restricting activities in crowded spaces where it’s difficult to ascertain vaccination statuses. “There must be behavioral mitigation practices if you’re too young to be eligible for either,” she states.
Families traveling with young children should pay close attention to their chosen destination more than they might have in the past. Dr. Kalu notes, “The goal would be to reach a point where safety shouldn’t matter where you go, but for now, additional considerations regarding vaccination practices and community spread of COVID-19 at your destination are essential.”
Keeping Vaccinations Up to Date
Additionally, parents should remain vigilant about other vaccine-preventable infections while traveling. Dr. Kalu urges families to check the CDC website for destination-specific vaccine information and to ensure that all routine vaccinations for both parents and children are current. She highlights the importance of obtaining the flu shot, especially during winter, as influenza can pose significant health risks to children.
Do Kids Need to Be Vaccinated to Enter the US?
Currently, the US government does not mandate that visitors under the age of 18 be vaccinated, given the global unavailability of vaccines for adolescents. They are also not required to self-quarantine upon arrival. However, as specified by the CDC’s recent order, these guidelines will be periodically assessed. In the meantime, kids must undergo testing three to five days after arriving in the US and self-isolate if a positive result occurs or if symptoms arise.
For further information regarding COVID-19 and travel, please consult iBestTravel’s Health Hub.
