American Academy of Pediatrics recommends universal masking at schools this fall

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued new guidance saying that school staff and all kids over the age of two should continue to wear masks at school in the fall, regardless of their vaccination status. 

This recommendation differs from the recently released CDC guidelines, which state that vaccinated students, faculty and staff do not need to wear masks indoors at school in the fall. 

“There are many children and others who cannot be vaccinated,” Sara Bode, chairperson-elect of the AAP Council on School Health Executive Committee, said in a statement. “This is why it’s important to use every tool in our toolkit to safeguard children from COVID-19. Universal masking is one of those tools and has been proven effective in protecting people against other respiratory diseases as well. It’s also the most effective strategy to create consistent messages and expectations among students without the added burden of needing to monitor everyone’s vaccination status.”

Aligning with the AAP’s guidance, California will require that all students and staff wear masks while inside school buildings when returning to school this fall.