A Florida teenager who spent 11 days on a ventilator attributable to COVID-19 urges others her age to get the sting to keep away from the identical destiny.
Paulina Velasquez, 15, is a highschool pupil from Coral Springs, Florida.
She had deliberate to get vaccinated – it’s appropriate for the Pfizer BioNTech syringes – however by no means bought round to it, Velasquez instructed CNN.
Velasquez examined optimistic for COVID-19 on July 11 after dropping her style and odor and experiencing different flu-like signs as effectively.
Inside every week, she was hospitalized at Broward Well being Medical Heart, and her situation finally worsened to the purpose the place she wanted a ventilator.
Paulina Velasquez (pictured), 15, urges different youngsters to get vaccinated after battling COVID-19
Velasquez (pictured) was hospitalized and ventilated for 11 days after falling out of Covid. had pneumonia
“That was the scariest second once they instructed me as a result of I did not know what to anticipate,” mentioned Agnes Velasquez, Paulina’s mom.
Her daughter had extreme pneumonia that required essential remedy. Paulina was capable of get better.
“Issues might have gone unsuitable shortly, however she has recovered as a result of she is a younger, wholesome little one. That was for her restoration for my part, “mentioned Dr. Venu Devabhaktuni instructed CNN.
The teenage lady nonetheless feels weak after her battle with the virus, however undergoes bodily remedy to regain her power.
There was a rise within the variety of kids hospitalized with COVID-19 not too long ago.
Almost 20,000 minors are hospitalized each week, in line with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Whereas kids are typically safer from the virus and fewer more likely to die or have extreme instances, they don’t seem to be immune.
Circumstances are additionally rising in kids, with over 250,000 minors testing optimistic for the virus within the week of September 2, a brand new document for the pandemic.
Greater than 250,000 minors examined optimistic for Covid within the week main as much as September 2, a brand new document excessive
These hospitalizations are uncommon amongst vaccinated kids, and a latest report from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) finds that kids residing in elements of the nation with decrease vaccination charges usually tend to be hospitalized.
Each American over the age of 12 is entitled to a COVID-19 vaccine, though minors are the least vaccinated group in the USA, in line with the CDC.
Slightly below 39 p.c of People ages 12-15 and 48 p.c of 16-year-olds are absolutely vaccinated.
The one different age group with a vaccination price beneath 50 p.c are People aged 18 to 24 years.
People aged 12 to fifteen (dashed gold line) and 16 or 17 (strong gold line) are the least vaccinated age teams within the nation
Minors often require parental consent to get the photographs, and American mother and father disagree on whether or not their kids want the shot.
Nevertheless, following her personal expertise with the virus, Velasquez says she plans to get herself vaccinated if she will and encourages others her age to take action.
“My message, technically, is in case you are eligible to get the vaccine please do it,” she mentioned.
“I plan to get vaccinated as quickly as my physician lets us know, if I can.”
She later added, “It is a very critical virus. This virus does not select who to contaminate. ‘
“It might hit you as arduous because it does me. And I do not need anybody to undergo what I have been via. ‘
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