Pediatric hospitalizations up 395% in NYC amid COVID-19 surge

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- New York State reported a "striking increase" in new hospital admissions for children as pediatric COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the U.S. continue to rise week after week.

The New York State Department of Health said the recent fourfold increase in admissions that began the week of December 5 is concentrated in New York City and the surrounding area, where the highly contagious omicron variant was spreading rapidly.

"The risks of COVID-19 for children are real," acting State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said. "We are alerting New Yorkers to this recent striking increase in pediatric COVID-19 admissions so that pediatricians, parents and guardians can take urgent action to protect our youngest New Yorkers."

Pediatric hospitalizations are up 395% in New York City since the week ending December 11, jumping from 22 to 109 the week ending December 23. Statewide pediatric hospitalizations jumped from 70 to 184.

The state's trend is having a particularly disturbing impact on unvaccinated children -- even as the state touts a high vaccination rate among adults. Of the 5- to 11-year-old children admitted to New York City hospitals with COVID from the week of December 5 until the current week, none were fully vaccinated.

ABC's Em Nguyen reports as the omicron variant has led to an unprecedented spread of COVID-19 in New York City's central borough.

Meanwhile, the number of kids hospitalized with the virus statewide has risen 2.5-fold, from 70 to 184, over the same period.

This as Hochul called on parents to use the winter break to vaccinate their kids, with only 16.4% of 5- to 11-year-olds in the state vaccinated.

"There's just no reason. We have the supply. We have the capacity. We have the staff in place for every child to be vaccinated who is eligible," Hochul said.

New York State reported a "striking increase" in new hospital admissions for children as pediatric COVID cases in the U.S. continue to rise.

Hochule also said the state will distribute up to 3.5 million tests to schools this week to keep students in class amid the omicron spike

"We want to make sure these schools stay open," when students return to classes next week by initiating a widespread "test to say" policy, Hochul said, adding that she would travel the state this week and return to Albany Friday afternoon for a New Year's Eve news conference to prepare the state for what she called "winter surge 2.0."

"If you are sniffling or not feeling good, just say home, watch the ball drop on TV, get a nice glass of champagne, and know you are doing the smart thing," she said.

Dr Bassett assured that the number of children hospitalized is "still small" but said she is releasing the data to "motivate pediatricians and families to seek vaccinations for the unvaccinated child and their family."

From December 9 to December 16, nearly 170,000 children in the U.S. tested positive for COVID-19, up about 28% in the last two weeks, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association released last Monday.

Children continue to account for about a quarter (23.7%) of reported weekly coronavirus cases in the U.S., according to the report. On average, nearly 200 children in the U.S. are being admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 each day, according to federal data.

Similar trends were reported overseas.

A December 23 U.K. analysis found that unvaccinated children ages 5 to 11 comprised the "highest prevalence" of positive COVID-19 tests by age group.

And preliminary data from South Africa estimates that children had a 20% higher risk of hospitalization in the country's omicron-driven fourth wave, given the fact that so many children were still unvaccinated, and therefore, unprotected.

"If you have a child 5 to 11, please get that child vaccinated to prevent them from getting anything that even resembles a serious illness," Dr. Anthony Fauci said in a "Good Morning America" interview Monday.

WATCH: Dr. Fauci talks why omicron cases are expected to keep rising

Dr. Anthony Fauci discusses the transmissibility of the omicron variant and when he expects this current COVID surge of infections to peak.

Millions of children remain unvaccinated

As of Dec. 5, fewer than 17% of 5-to-11-year-old children had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, according to a KFF analysis.

This comes even though in the U.S., anyone over the age of 5 is eligible for the vaccine. Pfizer shots were authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for those 5 to 11 at the end of October.

Now, given the potential for the highly transmissible omicron variant to cause an even greater wave of infections, experts say it is more critical than ever for children to be vaccinated.

Although young people have largely been spared from acute COVID-19 illness, experts stress that children are not immune from the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children are as likely to be infected with COVID-19 as adults, and the virus is now one of the top 10 causes of death for children ages 5 through 11 years.

MORE | Early indicators suggest omicron symptoms are mild, flu-like; more data needed to be sure

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on what to know about the omicron surge and COVID-19 testing.

"Omicron's increased transmissibility makes it possible that we'll see very high case numbers in children, especially if they remain unvaccinated," Dr. Kristin Moffitt, an infectious disease specialist at Boston Children's Hospital, told ABC News. "Even if severe infection remains relatively uncommon in children, if case numbers in children skyrocket, we'll see many more pediatric hospitalizations."

However, about two-thirds of parents of elementary school-aged children are either holding off on getting their younger children vaccinated or refuse to do so, according to another recent KFF poll, conducted before the discovery of omicron.

The safety profile of the Pfizer vaccine for eligible children remains "very reassuring," Dr. Moffit said.

The CDC has yet to identify any concerns with the temporary heart inflammation known as myocarditis, a potential side effect of mRNA vaccines seen in rare circumstances in teenagers and young adults.

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How can I protect a child too young for a COVID-19 vaccine?

Children younger than 5 can't get COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. yet, but there are steps you can take to protect them from infection over the holidays.

"Surround them with adults and siblings who are vaccinated, boosted if eligible," advises Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

She also encourages taking COVID-19 home tests before gatherings.

The CDC recommends that anyone who's not vaccinated - including children ages 2 and older - wear masks indoors in public. If your child is younger than 2 -- or cannot wear a mask for other reasons -- the agency suggests limiting visits with unvaccinated people. And it says to keep a distance between the child and others in public places.

Adults might also opt to wear a mask indoors in public to set an example for young children, the CDC says. But in virus hot spots, it says everyone should wear masks in those settings, regardless of whether they're vaccinated.

The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this report.

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