HJAR Nov/Dec 2021

What are your concerns about ongoing health issues in the children who recovered? Many of the children who recover do very well, but we monitor them closely for MIS-C and spend a lot of time working on their breathing with respiratory therapies. We are also very concerned about children’s mental health as the pandemic continues. All children’s hospitals have seen increases in behavioral health admissions since the spring of 2020. We know the changes in routine, the ongoing stress, uncertainty and grief have weighed heavily on children and teens. What is your opinion on schools reopening for in-classroom teaching? Children need to be in the classroom. It’s important for improving the mental health outlook, and the interaction greatly impacts their overall development. We want kids to be in school, learning and enjoying social time with their peers. Schools, teachers, counselors and support staff are often a first line of defense that can help identify when a child is facing challenges, as well. We encourage all families to mask in social settings and to discuss masking with their kids. They can set a great example and make the classroom experience much safer by modeling good masking when they are outside the home with their children. I love the story of a child who was asked to take his mask off for a class photo. He politely said, “No,” because it was safer to stay masked and his parents had explained why. Good masking practices and excellent vaccine compliance will help us continue to make the school environment even safer. Do you think the worst is over? And, what do you see on the horizon for this virus? I certainly wish there was a crystal ball for this. I really don’t know, but I am hope- ful that if the FDA approves vaccinations for ages 5-11, we will begin to see even more families make this choice to protect their children. An FDA-approved vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect our chil- dren. I also encourage all families to talk to their trusted healthcare provider about the vaccine. We have an important responsibil- ity here that can’t be overemphasized. As healthcare providers, we play a crucial role by being a voice that can help families make the decision to vaccinate. We should all be advocating for vaccination and remind- ing families that until a pediatric vaccine is available, the best way to protect kids is for the adults in their lives to take the vaccine. Can you share a story that moved you or your staff? One of the stories that has moved me most was a mother who saw her daugh- ter struggle this summer in our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. She hadn’t realized her daughter could get so sick from COVID-19. She shared her story with media outlets and raised awareness about the importance of vaccinating tweens and teens. Her selfless act as a mother helped others understand just how severe COVID-19 could become. She is a true champion. n “We experienced a historic high in RSV cases, which further exacerbated the challenges with staffing and resources we were noting during the simultaneous rise in COVID-19 Delta variant cases.” HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  NOV / DEC 2021 15