Key Points

SARS-CoV-2 Situation Since the Start of the Pandemic Among 5- to 11-Year-Olds and 12- to 17-Year-Olds

• Comparable trends over time in the number of confirmed cases, new hospitalizations, and admissions to intensive care among 5- to 11-year-olds and 12- to 17-year-olds. Higher incidence and hospitalization rates among 12- to 17-year-olds than among 5- to 11-year-olds. In 2020, the annual incidence rate was more than twice as high among 12- to 17-year-olds (3,408 per 100,000) than among 5- to 11-year-olds (1,549 per 100,000).

• Over the past few weeks, weekly incidence rates of confirmed cases have been similar among 12- to 17-year-olds and 5- to 11-year-olds, most likely due to the rollout of vaccination for 12- to 17-year-olds in mid-June 2021.

• Hospitalization rates among 12- to 17-year-olds were approximately twice as high as those among 5- to 11-year-olds in 2020. Hospitalizations among children aged 5–11 and 12–17 accounted for 0.3% and 0.5% of all hospitalizations, respectively, with no difference between 2020 and 2021.

• Very low numbers of severe cases hospitalized in intensive care in both age groups. Severe cases among children aged 5–11 and 12–17 accounted for 0.2% and 0.4% of all severe cases, respectively, with no difference between 2020 and 2021.

• The number of PIMS cases was approximately twice as high among children aged 5–11 compared to those aged 12–17.

• Very rare deaths among children for whom a link to SARS-CoV-2 is possible or established (3 and 12 among 5–11-year-olds and 12–17-year-olds, respectively). The vast majority of these deaths occurred in children with chronic conditions.

• Seroprevalence data for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies suggest a slightly higher risk of infection among 12- to 17-year-olds compared to 5- to 11-year-olds, and a higher frequency of asymptomatic cases among 5- to 11-year-olds than among 12- to 17-year-olds.

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