Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin held a press briefing on November 4, including taking questions from reporters and community members. Dr. Duchin provided the latest information on COVID-19 vaccination for kids ages 5-11 and the latest on COVID-19 transmission and hospitalizations in King County.

Dr. Duchin discussed the serious impact COVID-19 has had on children ages 5-11 and encouraged caregivers to get their children vaccinated:

It’s quite clear that this disease is a very significant one for children. There have been approximately 94 deaths in the 5- to 11-year-old age group. Children should not be dying at 5 to 11 years of age. In fact, COVID-19 has become the eighth leading cause of death for children in that age group since the pandemic started. This vaccine has been given to over 200 million people in the US. It has an excellent safety record. So, the cost benefit clearly very strongly favors vaccination in this age group. We hope people will take advantage of this. These children in this age group now have the same opportunity as older children and adults to protect themselves from COVID-19, to protect their communities, and to help us get back to all the activities that children should be doing and that we want to be doing with our children.

Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – SEattle & King County

Originally published 11/5/21.