News 12’s Doug Geed was joined by pediatrician Dr. John Zaso to speak about the new Delta variant and how to keep children safe while emerging from the pandemic.

The Delta variant accounts for at least 20% of all COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Anthony Fauci says the variant has a doubling rate of around two weeks, which means it could soon be the dominant strain in the country. Dr. Zaso answers if this means vaccinated people will now need an updated vaccine. 

As of May 2021, nearly 60% of all COVID-19 deaths were of those 75 years or older. With deaths related to the virus hitting record lows, some believe the vaccine is not necessary for children. The pediatrician explains the benefits of younger people getting vaccinated:  

Some parents are also worried about myocarditis that has reportedly occurred during rare instances in younger men after vaccinations. Dr. Zaso gives his advice to parents who have a child with preexisting heart conditions: