Houston’s health officials confirmed that the first child to die from Covid-19 in Houston did not have any underlying heath conditions.
Houston Health Department (HHD), announced Thursday that a male aged between 10 and 19 had died at a hospital in late July.
HHD stated in a statement that the victim had not been vaccinated.
The statement stated that he had tested positive for COVID-19. However, it is not known if he was infected by a variant of this virus.
HHD has not released any additional information due to privacy laws.
Houston has also reported six other deaths from Covid in children, though all victims had underlying conditions, HHD stated.
“This tragedy serves to remind children that even without any underlying health conditions, they can become seriously ill and eventually die from COVID-19,” Dr. David Persse said in a statement. “Vaccination is more than just about your health. It’s about protecting your family and friends from serious illness or death.
With the return of schools, the number of Covid cases among children in America has increased. The week ending August 19 saw more than 180,000 cases in children, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association.
Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccine has been fully approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for people over 16, and the emergency use authorization extends to children as young as 12.
Children younger than 12 years old cannot receive the vaccine.
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Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner released a statement saying that he extended his condolences to the family of the boy. “The loss of a loved person in any circumstance is devastating, especially when there are ways to stop the spread of the disease and save lives. All Houstonians 12 years and older should get vaccinated. I recommend wearing a mask when you are in large groups or places where it is difficult to socially distance yourself.
According to Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, Harris County includes Houston and had 1,298 confirmed Covid cases and 35 fatalities on Thursday.
There have been 486,701 Covid-19 deaths and 7,091 Covid-19 cases in the county.