Everything Concerned Parents Need to Know about the Omicron Variant and Their Children

• Children who have not been vaccinated are still more likely to become infected, meaning the rates of infected 5–11-year-olds is still rising
• Some children might have underlying health conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, or respiratory conditions, all of which can cause severe symptoms if they become infected.

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect the lives of people around the world, with the recently-identified Omicron variant seemingly causing a new wave of infections and creating heightened anxiety among the population. Parents of young children, in particular, have been expressing their concern in response to the number of children aged 5–11 who have been infected during this most recent wave. 

In this article, respected pediatrician specializing in infectious diseases, Passorn Punyahotra, M.D., will answer the main questions we receive from concerned parents about the Omicron variant and provide useful information about how parents can protect their children.