Children's Health

Health & Safety

Ohio Sees Uptick In COVID-19 Cases In Children

7:54am September 26, 2021

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with Dr. Adam Mezoff, Chief Medical Officer and Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Dayton Children's Hospital, about the rise in pediatric COVID-19 cases in Ohio.

Rapper Gunna and Goodr CEO Jasmine Crowe stop by the Goodr grocery store, at the Atlanta middle school he formerly attended.

A Free In-School Grocery Store Is Tackling Child Hunger, One Family At A Time

12:35pm September 25, 2021

by Sharon Pruitt-Young

The free store in an Atlanta middle school offers not only food, but also household items, toiletries, clothing and shoes. Social entrepreneur Jasmine Crowe hopes to open more.

Colorado Data Shows Vaccines And Masks Are Helping Protect Schoolchildren From COVID

4:52pm September 24, 2021

by John Daley - Colorado Public Radio

Colorado counties with high vaccination rates have much lower infection rates among children than those with low rates. Infection rates in schools which require masks are lower than ones that don't.

Julian Hernandez (right), 12, a seventh-grader at Hillside School in Illinois, says he feels much safer being back in school knowing that a weekly testing program is identifying those who are sick with COVID-19.

How Some Schools Are Using Weekly Testing To Keep Kids In Class — And COVID Out

2:33pm September 23, 2021

by Christine Herman

Many K-12 school districts are tapping federal funds to pay for regular surveillance testing of students. It's an effective pandemic tactic when used alongside mask-wearing and other precautions.

Hosna Ali, 6, eats rice with dried fish at home in Seleyang, Malaysia. Her dad, Mohd Ali, says the family has not been getting enough nutrients during the pandemic.

PHOTOS: How Struggling Families Manage To Feed Their Kids In A Pandemic

11:37am September 23, 2021

by NPR Special Report

For millions, the pandemic has meant a loss of income even as food prices are rising. The challenge for parents and grandparents is how to feed the youngsters in the family — and themselves as well.

The Science And Policy Behind The Decision To Vaccinate Younger Children

4:58pm September 21, 2021

by Maria Godoy

Chile has started vaccinating kids age 6 to 11 against COVID, one of the few nations in the world to immunize kids under 12. A handful of other countries are also giving shots to younger kids.

COVID-19 Vaccine Is Safe And Effective For Kids Ages 5-11, Pfizer Says

4:42pm September 20, 2021

by Allison Aubrey

A smaller dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for children ages 5 to 11, according to data the company released Monday. The data will now go before the FDA and CDC for review.

According to the State Department, 14 au pair agencies operate in the U.S. These private companies are required to offer the child care workers who contract with them basic health coverage. But the plans often amount to emergency or travel insurance — n

Health & Safety

The Affordable Care Act Can Help Au Pairs Avoid Medical Debt

2:48pm September 20, 2021

by Bryce Covert

Child care workers from outside the U.S. often buy health coverage through an agency. But those policies can have big gaps, critics warn. ACA plans are comprehensive and, with subsidies, can be cheap.

Health & Safety

Pediatric Psychologist On The High Rates Of Children Orphaned By COVID-19

8:34pm September 18, 2021

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Rachel Kentor, pediatric psychologist at Texas Children's Hospital, about children who have lost their primary caregivers to COVID-19.

A new study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ties the COVID-19 pandemic to an "alarming" increase in obesity in U.S. children and teenagers.

Health & Safety

Children And Teens Gained Weight At An Alarming Rate During The Pandemic, The CDC Says

12:22pm September 17, 2021

by Scott Neuman

A new CDC study found that the percentage of obese children and teens increased to 22%, compared to 19% before the pandemic. It also found that expected annual weight gain ranged from 5 to 15 pounds.