Children have a right to education and physical integrity.
#ProtectTheKids is committed to the best possible protection of children in schools and childcare facilities from the health risks posed by the spread of infectious diseases (e.g. COVID-19, RSV, influenza) through the air and the associated long-term consequences and late effects.
When assessing the health risks of infectious diseases, #ProtectTheKids is guided by the scientific consensus and follows the precautionary principle in the event of unclear data.
Just like providing the population with clean drinking water, ensuring clean indoor air is an essential prerequisite for public health. This applies in particular to the densely occupied indoor spaces of schools, nurseries and daycare centers.
COVID-19 is a multisystemic disease that affects blood vessels and nerves and may cause long-term and late effects in multiple organ systems. This includes the Long COVID syndrome, which can severely limit quality of life with long-lasting symptoms such as brain fog, chronic fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and dysautonomic disorders, and can affect it indefinitely (Al-Aly, Davis et al., 2024). Studies also show long-term effects and organ damage in children and adolescents; their risk of developing Long COVID twelve weeks after infection is between 1% and 5%, depending on age group, vaccination status and infection history – far too high for uncontrolled reinfection.
We strongly advocate the evidence-based “vaccines-plus” approach (Greenhalgh et al., 2022), which combines the benefits of vaccination with a reduction in the risk of transmission, focusing on improving air quality in classrooms through mechanical ventilation and air purification.
We urge that recurrent, unmitigated waves of infection be avoided in the future, as they increase cumulative health risks and promote and accelerate the development of immune escape variants. A course correction is urgently needed, as politicians and parts of society have neglected prevention since the fall of 2021, completely losing sight of containing the infections.
When the virus is in high circulation, it goes without saying that we should protect ourselves and others by wearing a high-quality mask (Greenhalgh et al., 2024).
Last update: 10.12.2024 / fn
