Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an important cause of morbidity in children in the United States (U.S.). Moreover, the U.S. has witnessed significant disparities affecting American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, and Hispanic/Latino children, stemming from systemic racism and social-structural inequalities and not differences in innate biological susceptibility.
We review what is known on COVID-19 and health disparities in disease burden, access to care, pharmaceutical interventions, and clinical research in children, with a focus on the U.S. context. In addition, we propose strategies to communicate scientific data in ways that do not promote racism and biological susceptibility themes, and to address pediatric disparities in clinical infectious diseases research.
Contributor Information
Claudia P Vicetti Miguel, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI.
Shom Dasgupta-Tsinikas, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA.
Gabriella S Lamb, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
Liset Olarte, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Children's Mercy Kansas City, University of Missouri-Kansas City, MO.
Roberto P Santos, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS.
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