The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

I'm fully vaccinated – should I keep wearing a mask for my unvaccinated child?

  • Written by Nancy S. Jecker, Professor of Bioethics and Humanities, School of Medicine, University of Washington
I'm fully vaccinated – should I keep wearing a mask for my unvaccinated child?

Fully vaccinated adults are celebrating their new freedom[1] and removing their face masks. Yet for parents of children under age 12, the rejoicing might be short-lived.

Since children that age do not yet have access to vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says[2] they are better off staying masked when in public and around people they don’t live with.

Now what? Do “good parents” keep their child’s face shield on at playgrounds, barbecues and play dates, teaching health and safety above all? Or do they “let kids be kids” and tell their child it’s OK to take the mask off? What if a child’s circle includes unvaccinated people at high risk of serious disease? With summer fast approaching, parents of youngsters must face these questions head-on.

As a moral philosopher and bioethicist[3], I analyze ethical dilemmas, and lately I’ve thought a lot about ethical dilemmas raised by the COVID-19 pandemic[4]. I’ve also written about a little-known field – ethics and the family – which asks what parents owe their children, what children owe their parents[5], and what spouses owe each other[6]. There are a few tools in my ethics toolkit that might help with the mask question.

Protecting safety at all costs

There’s an ethical view that holds that people are not just driven to do more for their family members, but have a special moral duty[7] to do more. This special duty arises by virtue of the relationships of love and affection in which families ideally stand.

On some accounts, a special duty might even require doing “everything possible[8]” to keep a loved one safe. Reasoning along these lines, one might hold that parents have a duty to lay down the law when it comes to masking.

Yet a potential snag in this line of thinking is that it is at odds with other decisions people make for their children – like routinely letting kids do risky things such as climb trees or ski down slopes. What’s more, keeping children safe is complicated. Presumably, it includes protecting children’s mental health[9] and social development. A masked summer could frustrate such efforts.

Letting kids be kids

A different way of thinking is that unmasking is justified to let kids be kids. The Swiss enlightenment philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau might have supported this view[10]. He held that childhood is valuable for its own sake, and that the best way to bring up children is to let them develop naturally.

Too often, parents bring to parenting their own “life-stage bias[11],” which occurs when ethical concerns – such as safety – that are prominent at one life stage are generalized and assumed to be central for all life stages. While children should, of course, be kept safe to prepare them for adulthood, preparing for adulthood should not crowd out all other values, or keep children from the joys of childhood.

The point here is that childhood is a one-of-a-kind experience[12]. For example, childhood friendships differ from adult ones[13], and childhood play calls upon a child’s ability to become absorbed in make-believe worlds and entertain radically different worlds.

To the extent that children miss out on healthy childhood experiences, they cannot readily make them up. For example, having more adult friends will not compensate for lacking childhood ones, and playing more as an adult will not replace childhood play. The window closes.

Whether masking interferes a lot or only mildly with childhood fun will depend on a number of factors, such as the child’s age (a 2-year-old may have a harder time than a 10-year-old), activity (wearing a mask while playing dolls may be easier than while playing basketball) and aversion to masking (which may vary based on the child’s personality or whether their friends mask).

Civic responsibility

Of course, the other reason for children to mask is that this prevents them from transmitting the coronavirus to others. Especially if a child’s circle includes someone with heightened risk of severe disease and death from the virus, this consideration will be overriding.

For example, if a child’s neighbor is a 5-year-old with Down syndrome, or their best friend has asthma[14], or they have a family member who is vaccinated but whose immune system is suppressed by drugs or disease[15], they should keep their mask on. In these situations, it is important for parents to acknowledge that masking is not what the child wants to do, but that putting others’ health and safety first sometimes matters most.

Masking in solidarity

Parents who choose to keep their unvaccinated child masked might ask the child if it would help them if they masked too. Masking with a child conveys appreciation and recognition that, for some kids, keeping a mask on is a big ask. Such a move throws a wrench in parents’ own unmasking celebrations. But parents can celebrate later, after their child gets vaccinated, and when their child can celebrate too.

While these decisions can be tough for parents and kids alike, the good news is that children ages 2 to 11 will probably have access to vaccines in September[16].

The upshot

Parents and caregivers have made so many sacrifices over the course of the pandemic to keep kids safe. Summertime, typically a period of carefree play, promises long-awaited relief.

For some families with small children, the masks are coming off and they’re headed to Disney World, which no longer requires masks outdoors[17]. For other families, all their prior efforts might feel wasted if they didn’t go the last mile and wait a bit longer.

Whatever parents decide, they should communicate their message in a way that shows love and support for their child.

References

  1. ^ their new freedom (www.cdc.gov)
  2. ^ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says (www.cdc.gov)
  3. ^ moral philosopher and bioethicist (depts.washington.edu)
  4. ^ ethical dilemmas raised by the COVID-19 pandemic (dx.doi.org)
  5. ^ what children owe their parents (www.jstor.org)
  6. ^ spouses owe each other (www.researchgate.net)
  7. ^ special moral duty (plato.stanford.edu)
  8. ^ everything possible (doi.org)
  9. ^ protecting children’s mental health (www.aappublications.org)
  10. ^ might have supported this view (oll.libertyfund.org)
  11. ^ life-stage bias (www.doi.org)
  12. ^ childhood is a one-of-a-kind experience (doi.org)
  13. ^ differ from adult ones (www.doi.org)
  14. ^ a 5-year-old with Down syndrome, or their best friend has asthma (www.cdc.gov)
  15. ^ immune system is suppressed by drugs or disease (www.sciencemag.org)
  16. ^ access to vaccines in September (www.aappublications.org)
  17. ^ no longer requires masks outdoors (www.usatoday.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/im-fully-vaccinated-should-i-keep-wearing-a-mask-for-my-unvaccinated-child-161619

Times Magazine

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Times Features

Exploring the Curriculum at a Modern Junior School in Melbourne

Key Highlights The curriculum at junior schools emphasises whole-person development, catering to children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. It ensures early year...

Distressed by all the bad news? Here’s how to stay informed but still look after yourself

If you’re feeling like the news is particularly bad at the moment, you’re not alone. But many of us can’t look away – and don’t want to. Engaging with news can help us make ...

The Role of Your GP in Creating a Chronic Disease Management Plan That Works

Living with a long-term condition, whether that is diabetes, asthma, arthritis or heart disease, means making hundreds of small decisions every day. You plan your diet against m...

Troubleshooting Flickering Lights: A Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners

Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik Effectively addressing flickering lights in your home is more than just a matter of convenience; it's a pivotal aspect of both home safety and en...

My shins hurt after running. Could it be shin splints?

If you’ve started running for the first time, started again after a break, or your workout is more intense, you might have felt it. A dull, nagging ache down your shins after...

Metal Roof Replacement Cost Per Square Metre in 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Australian Homeowners

In recent years, the trend of installing metal roofs has surged across Australia. With their reputation for being both robust and visually appealing, it's easy to understand thei...