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Mask Recommendations for Children

Children can get COVID-19 and infect others. They are also susceptible to long term health issues due to Long Covid.

Hospitalizations have risen sharply for children, especially newborns. It’s not just because the little ones can’t receive the vaccines. “The omicron variant attacks the airways more than the lungs, and younger children have smaller airways,” Dr. Andrew Pavia, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist with Primary Children’s Hospital explained. “Children develop a croup-like cough. Children under 2 cannot wear masks or get a COVID-19 vaccine. We need to mask up around infants and young children to protect them.”

As of Feb. 17, 2022, over 12.5 million children have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic. Reported by American Academy of Pediatrics, COVID-19 cases among children have spiked dramatically in 2022 during the Omicron variant surge; over 4.6 million child cases have been reported since the beginning of January.

In the State-Level Data Report on AAP.ORG, a message urges medical providers to collect more age-specific data to assess the severity of illness related to new variants as well as potential longer-term effects. We need to identify and address the immediate effects on children’s health and the long-lasting impacts on their physical, mental, and social well-being.

Additionally, parents should be aware of MIS-C. Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children is a COVID complication that occurs two to eight weeks after an infection or exposure to SAR-CoV-2. In addition to ongoing fever, dizziness, bloodshot eyes, stomachache, rash, diarrhea, vomiting are key symptoms. Children showing these signs should be medically evaluated. Early treatments will prevent hospitalizations and deaths

MIS-C is serious. Since mid-May, 2020, the CDC has been tracking MIS-C cases. As of January 31, 2022, the CDC reported 6,851 cases and 59 children have succumbed to this illness. 98% had tested positive for COVID-19. Over 40% of the cases were in the age group 5-11.

A CDC study found that two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had a 91% effectiveness rate against MIS-C. To protect children from MIS-C, it’s critical to stop the spread. Face masks and respirators have been proven to lower the risk of infection. A CDC study shows respirators superior to cloth masks in filtering virus-sized particles. Children 2 and up are recommended to wear a mask indoors in public.

CHILDREN NEED BETTER QUALITY MASKS

To get young children respirators, your choice is between KF94s and KN95s. NIOSH-approved N95s do not have child size. KF94s are made in Korea. There are also domestic and international KN95s for kids. Surgical masks also come in child size. In the U.S., KN95s fall under FDA jurisdiction. See CDC's guidance for children. Additionally, you can also look into children masks made with Nanofibers.

Dr. Clara Lee, a pediatrician from New Jersey, recommends “Happy Mask”, a nanofiber-based mask and KF94s that are made in Korea. When buying respirators, beware of counterfeits. It’s less confusing and safer to buy your masks from a trusted source like Project N95 or directly from manufacturers in the U.S.

For elastomeric respirators, MTA’s mask expert Nicolas Smit recommends Flo Mask, which is designed to fit kids 4-12 years old, reusable, washable and offers high filtration efficiency. The soft rubber gasket provides an excellent seal. The filters have been Nelson Labs tested to block over 99.8% of viruses

Our hearts go out to parents who are stressing about protecting their children and dealing with this health crisis.

A Pandemic Story By MTA

Hosts are Dr. Robi Tamargo and Lindsay Schwarz

MaskTogetherAmerica’s first podcast episode will take you to see the world through the eyes of two Covid Warriors. Dr. Robi Tamargo from Florida has been fighting Long Covid for over 600 days. Lindsay Schwarz from Georgia, a covid survivor, lost her father Dr. Eugene Schwarz. Dr. Robi Tamargo and Lindsay Schwarz are passionate about helping people learn the truth about Covid-19 through their firsthand experience.

We are done with isolation. Let’s reconnect by listening to each other. Our truth will help us put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. Maybe putting our differences aside isn’t entirely impossible. Join us for our weekly story time. Everyone has a story to tell, especially in this COVID pandemic.

Producer/Editor: Julie Lam

Listen to the podcast on Anchor and Spotify.

MaskTogetherAmerica

MaskTogetherAmerica On How Now? Podcast with Kim Martin-Raymond

How Now? is a podcast that focuses on HOW we live in the NOW. Kim Martin-Raymond, a minister from Atlanta, Georgia, invites people from all walks of life to express how they are living in the now, despite the pandemic and its effects. Minister Kim wants her audience to learn about how people navigate through this trying time, how we can take action and find peace for ourselves and those around us. Our community is a good example of how ordinary people can come together to support public health. We are proof that we can make our voices heard by connecting with each other and sending a message together.

The first episode featuring Founder Julie Lam was aired on Jun 1, 2021. The second episode featured 9 members of our team, Julie Lam, Lindsay Schwarz, Rachel Laiserin, Mary Conde, Becky Ancira Robertson, Dr. Marjorie Roberts, Dr. Robi Tamargo, Dr. Helen Pesola, Katie Marsh and Scott Cooper, was aired on August 4, 2021.

Please click below to watch a video of our presentation.

Watch the Video

How To Light Up On Social Media

Our presentation at the World Health Network Summit

MaskTogetherAmerica initiated a joint session at the Global Summit - To End Pandemics, organized by The World Health Network and New England Complex System Institute. How to Light Up on Social Media was presented by MaskTogetherAmerica and Teens for Vaccines on November 3, 2021. Moderated by MTA Coordinator Lindsay Schwarz, the session featured MTA Founder Julie Lam, Teens for Vaccines Founder Arin Parsa, Advocates Becky Ancira Roberts and Ayaan Moledina.

This educational session examined how to spark a grassroots public health movement, run completely by volunteers, using the internet. Our presentation addressed how to leverage community support to train the general public to become powerful advocates, by identifying and tackling issues that arise. Our goal is to empower those unfamiliar with social media to get their message out and reach the maximum number of people on multiple platforms.

Please click below to watch a video of our presentation.

Watch the Video