Back-to-School Mask and Vaccine Advice for Kids with Diabetes

Joslin’s Pediatric Department strongly recommends kids with diabetes, who are under 12 and not eligible for the vaccine, wear masks while indoors, including at school. This is the same advice the CDC is giving parents to prevent the spread of COVID among unvaccinated children.

Joslin’s Pediatric Department also recommends kids with diabetes who are 12 and older should get the vaccine as soon as possible and continue masking indoors. The use of facemasks has clearly demonstrated the reduction of the transmission of the COVID-19 virus and the majority of children can wear a face mask safely and effectively for long periods of time such as during the school day. 

The Delta variant of the COVID virus is highly transmissible and has affected children. We recommend that when emergency use authorization is granted for COVID-19 vaccination for kids under 12 that youth with type 1 and type 2 diabetes should get vaccinated. Youth with type 1 and type 2 diabetes have 2 - 4 times the risk of severe infections, hospitalizations, and poor outcomes than kids without diabetes – so prevention is key! Parents of children with diabetes can help protect them by getting their kids vaccinated, getting vaccinated themselves and having their children wear masks indoors, including at school.

By getting vaccinated as soon as possible and wearing masks in school, we are confident that kids with diabetes can have a happy, healthy and safe school year.

About Joslin Diabetes Center

Joslin Diabetes Center is world-renowned for its deep expertise in diabetes treatment and research. Part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, Joslin is dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy lives. We develop and disseminate innovative patient therapies and scientific discoveries throughout the world. Joslin is affiliated with Harvard Medical School and one of only 18 NIH-designated Diabetes Research Centers in the United States.