Protecting the Health of Vulnerable Children and Adolescents During COVID-19–Related K-12 School Closures in the US

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic prompted widespread closures of kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) schools, affecting approximately 000 schools">124 000 schools and 55.1 million students. Without a vaccine, school closures were part of a comprehensive public health strategy to curb viral transmission, although their effectiveness is debatable. 1 As COVID-19 evidence evolves, there is increased awareness of the disproportionate health impact of closures on vulnerable children 2 and an intensified call to reopen schools safely. 3