HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — UAB's Division of Adolescent Medicine, Dr. Tamera Coyne-Beasley, says according to the CDC, children are now the age group contracting COVID-19 the most.
"Young people also now make up more than 22% of new infections. So, as of April 30th, there were 1.5 million young people between the ages of 13 and 17 who actually had COVID," said Beasley.
This is because more people in older age groups are vaccinated.
Parents may still question the long-term effects for their child, like the rise of concern with myocarditis, which is the inflammation of muscles in the heart.
Beasley says myocarditis is not related to the vaccine but that it can be prevented by the vaccine.
"We had many people who were hospitalized with myocarditis and have had none since the vaccine or from the vaccine," said Beasley.
The vaccine will allow individuals to receive the antibodies which can fight off COVID-19 and other strands caused by the virus.
This year has been hard, especially for children - not being able to take part in activities they love.
Beasley says the way to get back to normalcy is to get vaccinated.
"If we really want to stem this pandemic, and let adolescence get back to doing the things they like to do safely, like going to school interacting with their peers going to camps going to entertainment venues it's incredibly important," said Beasley.