COVID takes slightly more children than flu, but far less than car accidents

The CDC estimates only 1 in 50,000 pediatric COVID cases end in death

There have been 3,943,407 reported cases of COVID in in children, with 300 deaths (ages 0-17, as of 5/26). Because not all cases are reported, the CDC estimates the case fatality rate in children age 0-17 is 1 in 50,000.

Underlying conditions complicate 75% of pediatric COVID deaths

Among pediatric COVID deaths, 75% had at least one underlying medical condition, and 45% had two or more underlying medical conditions [most frequently reported medical conditions were chronic lung disease (28%), obesity (27%), neurologic and developmental conditions (22%), and cardiovascular conditions (18%)].

Children are 36 times more likely to die from an injury than COVID

Comparing 2019 mortality statistics with COVID statistics from March 2020-April 2021, a child was:

• 24% more likely to die of COVID than from flu the previous year (but flu, though less prevalent, was 2x more deadly per case)
• Equally likely to die in a fire
• 3x more likely to drown
• 7x more likely to die of cancer
• 9x more likely to die in car accident
• 36x more likely to die from injury, in general

Related: School Appears Safe During COVID-19, According to Research

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm#AgeAndSex
https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/children-and-covid-19-state-level-data-report/
https://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate.html
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6937e4.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/planning-scenarios.html