San Diego health officials confirm that a 15-year-girl from San Diego County died from COVID-19 earlier this year in February.
The teenager's confirmed cause of death was announced on Wednesday by officials, which makes this the region's second COVID pediatric death since the start of the pandemic.
Wilma J. Wooten, County public health officer, expressed their condolences to the family of the 15-year-old girl who suffered the pediatric death related to COVID-19, and also stated that this is an alarming wake up call for everyone to realize that no age group is invincible to this virus.
“Pediatric deaths are very tragic and unfortunate. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of this young girl,” said Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “This unfortunate death reminds us that COVID-19 can impact anyone, regardless of age or gender, and we must do everything to protect ourselves and our loved ones.”
The 15-year-old girl died on February 3, 2022, and reportedly had underlying medical conditions, while also not being vaccinated.
Wooten also reminded to the public the importance of receiving their COVID-19 vaccination doses.
“The more people who are vaccinated, the better protected we all will be,” Wooten said in a news release.
On top of deaths, the pediatric age gap is reportedly as risk of suffering from Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), an unusual but still serious health condition that is associated with the COVID-19 virus where different parts of their bodies becomes infected.
Up until this date, there have been 9 confirmed cases of (MIS-C) confirmed in San Diego County.
The following statistics are directly provided from the County regarding COVID-related deaths:
Deaths:
- 24 new deaths were reported since the last report on April 6, 2022. The region’s total is 5,229.
- 16 men and eight women died between Sept. 17, 2021 and April 5, 2022.
- Six were age 80 or older, six were in their 70s, five were in their 60s, two were in their 50s, one was in their 40s, two were in their 30s, one was in their 20s and one was in her teens.
- Three of the people who died were fully vaccinated and 21 were not fully vaccinated.
- 20 had underlying medical conditions and four did not.
Anyone can book a vaccine appointment on San Diego County’s website or also through the state’s MyTurn portal.
