Why Are We Continuing to Punish Our Children?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced this week that vaccinated individuals can take off their masks indoors in most circumstances. Sane people have been saying this for a long time. If the vaccines are effective, then why keep up with the theater? So those on both sides of the political aisle—aside from the Rachel Maddow types—were relieved the CDC finally came around. But questions remain, like why are we forcing children as young as two to wear masks?

For starters, young children are not a high-risk group. Most of those who do contract COVID-19 are asymptomatic or suffer mild symptoms. They also aren’t significant spreaders of the virus, according to a recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association. But they're still being forced to wear them, even in outdoor settings.

With multiple COVID vaccines readily available (to the point that many states are now incentivizing people to get inoculated), teachers and staff who were concerned about being around children are now protected, even from people who have not received the vaccine. So there is no good reason young children should continue being forced to mask up—a concept even the WHO has grasped and many European nations have followed.

"For children what we recommend is that under six years old, we don't recommend the use of masks, for many reasons - because of the way children are developing, the adherence to wearing them, many reasons," according to Maria van Kerkhove, head of the WHO's emerging diseases and zoonosis unit.

"Between 6 to 11, we recommend taking a risk-based approach depending on where the children are, the types of activities they are doing, if they are being monitored, because if they are wearing a mask there are some risks associated, they need to be worn safely.

The CDC finally admits vaccinated folks no longer need masks.

Anyone 12 and older can get vaccinated, and young children remain extremely low risk.

Let’s get schools back open!

Let’s get businesses back open!

Let's get Congress back open!

Let’s get AMERICA back open!
— Rep. Jody Hice (@CongressmanHice) May 14, 2021

“To be honest I just hate kids” — Fauci https://t.co/27oeDUKTYH
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) May 14, 2021

* Kids aren't statistically at risk
* Kids aren't a source of significant transmission
* Vulnerable & most adults have immunity
* Virus numbers are waning
* Masks don't help

If the CDC really wanted to "follow the science," it would call to end the forced masking of children.
— Scott Morefield (@SKMorefield) May 14, 2021

Bethany Mandel is among those who have been extremely vocal about this, and she has put together a sample letter to send to your elected officials. It's time to speak up. Our children deserve better.

Please take a moment to contact your representatives and ask them to support this effort. We owe it to our kids. https://t.co/h0wiYqmPbM
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) April 26, 2021