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Excess deaths from disease among school-aged (5-17) children remain highly elevated In every year since 2022, deaths from disease in school-aged children have been running 13% higher than they were pre-pandemic 13% increase translates into roughly 500 extra deaths per year

For example: In 2021 there were 221 more school-aged deaths than normal In 2022 it was 522 more deaths In 2023 it was 445 more deaths In 2024 it was 470 more deaths

If we drill down a little, we notice something Deaths from airborne pathogens (respiratory disease) actually PLUNGED in school-aged children in 2020 and 2021 110 fewer children died in 2021 of influenza than was the pre-pandemic normal

COVID mitigations (work-from-home, virtual schooling, social distancing, masks, etc.) all had a PROFOUND effect in reducing mortality from all respiratory pathogens In 2021 alone, 163 FEWER children died of respiratory disease than expected based on the pre-pandemic baseline

We need to be careful For example, there are 221 excess disease deaths in school-aged children in 2021. 2021 also saw a significant drop in respiratory disease mortality (163 fewer deaths) If we are trying to assess the mortality impact of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children

for the year 2021 (again, for example) then we need to at least add the excess deaths from disease (221) to the reduction in mortality from respiratory disease (163) And come up with 221+163 = 384 SARS-CoV-2 deaths among children in 2021

COVID mitigations dramatically lowered the number of kids dying from influenza, RSV, etc. What other causes of mortality from SARS-CoV-2 infections are suggested by the data? Percentage wise the greatest increase in mortality among children has to do with substance abuse