By Nadine Burke Harris, Photo: Bob Minkin, CNN Opinion, November 16, 2021
Now that the Pfizer vaccines have been authorized for emergency use in children ages 5 to 11, I, like so many parents across the US, am breathing a sigh of relief that my little ones can finally be protected against Covid-19. We still have a lot of work to do to ensure we emerge from this pandemic as soon as possible, but as a pediatrician and the Surgeon General of California, I recognize that reining in the virus can't be the end of the story.
If we're going to truly heal from the impacts of Covid-19, we need to once again let medicine lead our decision making and recognize the role that trauma caused by the pandemic and other cumulative stressors plays in both personal and public health — particularly when experienced during childhood.
In their recent deliberations, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rightly noted that the Covid-19 pandemic has led to an increase in adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), or potentially traumatic events that are linked to health problems, and an increased risk for many of the leading causes of death in the US. Unfortunately, most medical professionals have yet to incorporate this powerful research into how we administer care for both children and adults. In fact, too many doctors that I've spoken to still think ACEs are social problems that don't directly impact health or require medical interventions.
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