Three years after COVID-19: Lasting effects of disruptions for children

Three years after the COVID-19 pandemic, children and teens are still experiencing the lasting effects of pandemic-era lockdowns and disruptions to daily life.

Health providers are warning that trends, such as a drop in coverage among kindergartners for vaccines, unusual surges in respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, and mental health problems among children aren't subsiding.

Recent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases have raised concerns that more could pop up in the future if vaccination coverage continues to decline.

A recent measles outbreak in Ohio infected more than 80 children, with the majority of cases being among unvaccinated school-aged children, per state data.