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.

children wearing face medical mask back to school after covid-19 quarantine
Pediatric
News & Research

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

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...
Read more on Back-to-School Mask and Vaccine Advice for Kids with Diabetes
Colourful letters saying ‘back to school’.
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Back to School with Diabetes | The Basics

Back to School with Diabetes | The Basics

Starting a new grade, new school or beginning college can be very stressful even without having diabetes, particularly during the COVID pandemic. Some children, teens and young adults went to school...
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Back to School Tips for Diabetes Management: Teacher Edition

Back to School Tips for Diabetes Management: Teacher Edition

With the first day of school quickly approaching, preparation for the new school year is already underway. This upcoming school year may feel different than last year. Your school will probably still...
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