Los Angeles,
30
July
2021
|
09:00 AM
America/Los_Angeles

KCRW: How Parents Are Trying to Keep Their Unvaccinated Kids Safe as Delta Variant Spreads

KCRW show "Greater LA" recently featured a segment on what parents are doing to protect children too young to be vaccinated against COVID-19, as the highly contagious Delta variant circulates in the area. Host Steve Chiotakis spoke with Jessica Besbris, MD, a palliative neurologist at Cedars-Sinai and the mother of children ages 1 and 4.

Besbris, who is not an infectious disease specialist, told Chiotakis that as a parent she has been careful. Her family is enjoying as many outdoor activities as possible, but avoiding most indoor activities including indoor dining.

"Our 4-year-old knows that he wears his mask whenever we go anywhere," Besbris told Chiotakis. "And we're very cautious about who we interact with. And I don't think that is going to change regardless of what variant is floating around, until my children themselves are eligible to be vaccinated."

With diligent mask wearing and rigorous testing, her 4-year-old will go to camp this summer, "but it's sort of a day-to-day decision, meaning we're always looking at the case rates," Besbris told Chiotakis.

Despite the fact that children have proven less likely than adults to develop serious complications of COVID-19, Besbris said she will stay vigilant until her kids can receive the vaccine because so much remains unknown about the virus and the possibility that some adults around them will not behave responsibly.

"I don't think any parent wants to see their child get sick if they can prevent it," she said.

Click here to hear the complete episode from KCRW.