Pediatric hospitalizations are up 35% on average nationwide in just a week amid the latest COVID-19 surge.

A recent report from the New York State Department of Health warned health care providers about increasing cases among children in New York City and the surrounding areas.

The department identified a four-fold increase in COVID-19 hospital admissions for children 18 and under that began the week of Dec. 15.

The report also said that during that period​, no 5–11-year-olds admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 were fully vaccinated and that only a quarter of 12–17-year-olds that were hospitalized were fully vaccinated.

Physicians tell News 12 children tended to have less severe symptoms to the novel coronavirus, but children are showing they are susceptible to the new Omicron variant.

" I think the omicron is incredibly contagious and if you have something that is so much more contagious you are going to hit a lot more people," said Dr. Sharon Nachman, Division Chief of Pediatric Infectious Disease at Stony Brook Children's Hospital.

Health officials are urging parents to get their children vaccinated if they are eligible and to have them wear masks. Pediatric hospitalizations are up 35% on average nationwide in just a week amid the latest COVID-19 surge.

 "The frightening part is that you don't know what the symptoms are going to be for you or your children," said font Jeannie Kuhner of Deer Park. "My son has asthma so this is another fear factor."

Kuhner says she scheduled vaccinations for her 7 and 5-year old-children after hearing about the increase in cases.