Unvaccinated People are at Greatest Risk, Including Children Under 12 Years Old
The Delta Variant has crushed any hope of returning to normal at this time. Harris County’s threat level is at the highest level again, cases are dramatically increasing, hospitals are overflowing with COVID-19 patients and school is starting. The variant is more contagious than the original strain of COVID-19 and current positivity rate is 20.2%. Since many older people are vaccinated, unvaccinated younger people, including children under 12 who can’t be, are becoming infected. Harris County Public Health (HCPH) strongly encourages people who can be vaccinated, to do so immediately to protect themselves and young children.
COVID-19 vaccines are free at all HCPH sites throughout Harris County and no appointment is needed. To find one near you, click here. If you prefer to make an appointment, go to vacstrac.hctx.net or call 832-927-8787.
Parents must accompany their children, ages 12-17, to be vaccinated or children must bring a consent form signed by their parent or guardian. Consent forms are at vacstrac.hctx.net Twelve to 17-year-olds are eligible for the two-dose Pfizer vaccine.
For further protection, HCPH recommends washing your hands well and frequently with soap or hand sanitizer, and when in public wear masks indoors and stay 6 feet from others. Wearing masks indoors at school will also help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among students and staff. These precautions helped protect people at the beginning of the pandemic and they are still effective.
Parents with children under 12 should get them tested frequently to see if they have the virus. Four out of 10 people infected with COVID-19 don’t have symptoms, so parents may not know their children are sick with the virus. If they are infected, parents can monitor them to make sure they don’t develop serious symptoms and keep them isolated, so they don’t infect others. Testing is free at HCPH sites and results come back within 24 to 48 hours. Appointments are preferred but not needed, click here to find a site near you or call 832-927-7575.