Pediatric coronavirus cases could be "Substantially higher" than reported cases in Mississippi

Around 38,000 coronavirus cases have been identified in Mississippi children under the age of 18. But a recent study that examined antibodies found there are many more pediatric infections than previously thought. Dr. Charolette Hobbs, Pediatrician at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and lead author of the study says it's possible that many of these children never showed symptoms of the disease. But she says the virus can be deadly among children, and the long-term effects are still unknown.

Dr. Hobbs says it's more likely for children to get the virus from adults than for adults to get it from children. So Pediatricians are encouraging older family members to get the coronavirus vaccine and protect kids. Only those 16 years and older can get the Pfizer vaccine. And Dr. Anita Henderson, President of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics says a vaccine for adolescents age 12 and older may not be available until the Fall.

Doctors say the majority of pediatric coronavirus transmission happens outside of classrooms, and ask parents to avoid taking children to large indoor social gatherings.