Infectious disease specialist, Dr. Mark Kline, recommends COVID-19 vaccine to help fight Delta variant

School aged kids now make up the 3rd largest number of new COVID-19 cases in the state. More than 2000 new cases were reported among children ages 5 to 17 in just one week this month. At Children's Hospital New Orleans, there are now 20 kids in the hospital, 5 are in the intensive care unit.

Our infectious disease specialist, Dr. Mark Kline, blames the Delta variant. "The virus is more easily spread than earlier variants variants of the virus that we've seen. It produces a more serious disease, so we're seeing sicker kids than we did before."

Dr. Kline urges kids ages 12 and up to get the COVID-19 vaccine to help fight against the Delta variant.