Articles Offer Perspectives on the Impact of COVID-19 on Vulnerable Populations

In Pediatrics today, researchers present two perspective pieces that discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic affects children and families who already face considerable challenges. The article, “Sheltering in Place in a Xenophobic Climate: COVID-19 and Children in Immigrant Families,” describes how the pandemic has amplified existing inequities faced by immigrant families as they navigate school closures, lack of health insurance and paid leave. The authors conclude that the chilling effect of restrictive immigration policy and ongoing immigration enforcement may impact immigrant families’ decisions to seek medical and mental health care for COVID-19, and current relief packages exclude millions of children in immigrant families. To interview an author, contact

Rushina Cholera, MD, Phd, at rushina.cholera@duke.edu or AAP Public Affairs. The perspective can be found here.

Also published in Pediatrics today, “Vulnerable Youth and the COVID-19 Pandemic,” focuses on how stay-at-home orders, combined with increased economic instability and family pressures, could increase the risk of harm for some children. The authors analyze the pandemic’s impact on vulnerable youth, including those who are LGBTQ, homeless, maltreated, in foster care, and struggling with substance misuse. For an interview, contact Rachel Silliman Cohen, MD, at sillimancohen@rowan.edu or AAP Public Affairs.

The perspective is available here.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.