tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Emerg Infect Dis
. 2023 Mar 29;29(5).
doi: 10.3201/eid2905.221533. Online ahead of print.
Disparities in Implementing COVID-19 Prevention Strategies in Public Schools, United States, 2021-22 School Year
Sanjana Pampati, Catherine N Rasberry, Zach Timpe, Luke McConnell, Shamia Moore, Patricia Spencer, Sarah Lee, Colleen Crittenden Murray, Susan Hocevar Adkins, Sarah Conklin, Xiaoyi Deng, Ronaldo Iachan, Tasneem Tripathi, Lisa C Barrios
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, US schools have been encouraged to take a layered approach to prevention, incorporating multiple strategies to curb transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Using survey data representative of US public K-12 schools (N = 437), we determined prevalence estimates of COVID-19 prevention strategies early in the 2021-22 school year and describe disparities in implementing strategies by school characteristics. Prevalence of prevention strategies ranged from 9.3% (offered COVID-19 screening testing to students and staff) to 95.1% (had a school-based system to report COVID-19 outcomes). Schools with a full-time school nurse or school-based health center had significantly higher odds of implementing several strategies, including those related to COVID-19 vaccination. We identified additional disparities in prevalence of strategies by locale, school level, and poverty. Advancing school health workforce and infrastructure, ensuring schools use available COVID-19 funding effectively, and promoting efforts in schools with the lowest prevalence of infection prevention strategies are needed for pandemic preparedness.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus disease; health equity; respiratory infections; schools; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; vaccine-preventable diseases; viruses; zoonoses.
. 2023 Mar 29;29(5).
doi: 10.3201/eid2905.221533. Online ahead of print.
Disparities in Implementing COVID-19 Prevention Strategies in Public Schools, United States, 2021-22 School Year
Sanjana Pampati, Catherine N Rasberry, Zach Timpe, Luke McConnell, Shamia Moore, Patricia Spencer, Sarah Lee, Colleen Crittenden Murray, Susan Hocevar Adkins, Sarah Conklin, Xiaoyi Deng, Ronaldo Iachan, Tasneem Tripathi, Lisa C Barrios
- PMID: 36990463
- DOI: 10.3201/eid2905.221533
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, US schools have been encouraged to take a layered approach to prevention, incorporating multiple strategies to curb transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Using survey data representative of US public K-12 schools (N = 437), we determined prevalence estimates of COVID-19 prevention strategies early in the 2021-22 school year and describe disparities in implementing strategies by school characteristics. Prevalence of prevention strategies ranged from 9.3% (offered COVID-19 screening testing to students and staff) to 95.1% (had a school-based system to report COVID-19 outcomes). Schools with a full-time school nurse or school-based health center had significantly higher odds of implementing several strategies, including those related to COVID-19 vaccination. We identified additional disparities in prevalence of strategies by locale, school level, and poverty. Advancing school health workforce and infrastructure, ensuring schools use available COVID-19 funding effectively, and promoting efforts in schools with the lowest prevalence of infection prevention strategies are needed for pandemic preparedness.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus disease; health equity; respiratory infections; schools; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; vaccine-preventable diseases; viruses; zoonoses.