Mississippi’s only children’s hospital said Thursday it is treating more COVID-19 patients than it has since the beginning of the pandemic.
Children’s of Mississippi has 28 patients who are either positive for the virus or suspected to be positive, the hospital said in a Facebook post. These include eight children in intensive care, with five who are too young to get vaccinated. None of the 28 children were vaccinated, the hospital added.
In line with what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends, the hospital encouraged all children 12 and up to get vaccinated.
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Children’s for Mississippi is part of the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Dr. Mary Taylor, the chairwoman of pediatrics at the university, said all adults should get vaccinated. Because many children are not old enough to get vaccinated, those old enough should, Taylor added, according to a news story posted on the university website.
“We have an increasing number of children who are needing hospitalization for COVID-19,” Taylor said. “Adults should get vaccinated to protect those who are not eligible to be vaccinated.”
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Mississippi has more than 4,800 active cases of COVID-19, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health. Sen. Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, tested positive for the virus on Thursday, his office announced.
The state’s vaccination rate is just over 44% receiving their first dose, with over 36% fully vaccinated, per Mayo Clinic.
