“Follow the science,” we are told by politicians, media and now even by one another. Exactly what science? Someone with the title of M.D. on TV who is telling us one thing? Or, another telling us something different? OK, that’s one data point, or two. What about someone in a lab coat? Maybe. But none of these has the whole picture or knows everything, especially not for everyone. And they may even be biased or motivated to say certain things, or not other things. Who knows….

Additionally it is extremely important to not just lump in all data or all people into one category. Is vaccination right for you? Maybe…. Me? Maybe…. Everyone? No way! Similarly issuing arbritary mask mandates or social distancing – things unheard of in this country before 2020! – is a shotgun approach at best, likely not even effective at “slowing the spread,” and quite likely harmful in many ways.

We are now about 18 months into this COVID-19 pandemic and we are being bombarded by more “experts” and information than ever. But now every day we are getting more data – actual data – around death rates and hospitalization rates (see COVID-19 is Racist!) and it is becoming increasingly clear that kids (under 18) are virtually unaffected by this disease, therefore they should not be subjected to masking, social distancing or even virtual learning. It’s time to get back to letting our kids be kids!

According to CDC weekly hospitalization rates kids (0-17) have been hospitalized at a rate of less than 4 per 100,000. By far the lowest of any age range.

Flatten the Curve

At the beginning of this thing we were told, “two weeks to flatten the curve….” The idea was that we needed to band together, stay at home, socially distance, mask up, all in order to keep from overwhelming hospitals and medical staff. We have accomplished that goal, particularly for our youth!

And, as if that isn’t low enough for you their actual death rates are orders of magnitude lower. NIH (National Institutes of Health) data show that combined kids aged 0-17 deaths have occurred at a rate of .05 per 100,000.

If deaths or infections per 100,000 isn’t convincing enough look at the actul numbers of deaths, particularly compared to deaths involving Pneumonia, or the total number of deaths for this age range. For all of 2020 and through Sept. 8, 2021 412 kids from 0-17 have died “involving COVID-19.” Even assuming all of them died from COVID-19 (likely not the case, but we’ll assume it) that’s less than half who died from or with Pneumonia, and .007% of all deaths in their age range.

According to actual data from our government – CDC and NIH – our kids are virtually not at risk from COVID-19. Yes, a few have been hospitalized and even less have died, but far less than from other causes, including Pneumonia. It is time to stop stealing our kids childhood, stop restricting them and stop scaring them! Let’s get back to letting our kids be kids!