2-Year Old Students Should Wear Face Masks

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) announced on July 19, 2021, it strongly recommends in-person learning and urges all who are eligible to be vaccinated to protect against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

In addition to vaccinations, the AAP recommends that everyone older than age 2 wear face masks, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.

The AAP recommends universal masking because a significant portion of the student population is not yet eligible for vaccines. In addition, masking is proven to reduce the transmission of viruses and protect those who are not vaccinated.

Sonja O’Leary, M.D., FAAP, chair of the AAP Council on School Health, stated in a press release, “Combining layers of protection that include vaccinations, masking, and clean hands hygiene will make in-person learning safe and possible for everyone.”

Universal masking is ..... 'also the most effective strategy to create consistent messages and expectations among students without the added burden of needing to monitor everyone’s vaccination status.'

AAP emphasized the need for schools and local communities to use science and data to guide decisions, understanding that policies are intended to lessen but cannot eliminate health risks.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.