Breaking the rigid protocols of childhood is urgent

Abstract

Health protocols, although essential during the most critical stages of the pandemic, have lost relevance as the health situation improves and the disease is better understood. Currently, they create an unnecessary sense of alarm in the environments where children live their daily lives. After three years of disrupted childhood and with a high level of population immunity, it is urgent to lift many of the imposed restrictions, fostering an open social dialogue to assess their effects. This position is supported by national and international data, recent scientific research, and concern about the negative impact these measures have had on a generation of children and adolescents, affecting their well-being in the short, medium, and long term.

Vaccination has provided effective protection for teachers, families, and school staff, making measures such as the continued use of masks in classrooms unnecessary. Schools have reflected the community transmission of the virus but have not been primary sources of outbreaks. In fact, the period with the highest number of infections occurred while schools were closed. Children’s health involves much more than the absence of COVID-19; it is necessary to accept that the virus is here to stay and therefore prioritize a return to normal life. Current protocols, which discriminate based on vaccination status and encourage excessive testing, only perpetuate educational disruptions. Childhood cannot continue to be constrained by rigid protocols; restoring normality is both urgent and essential.