I am PEM- this current RSV crisis is a testament to how much we care about kids- the very thing we tried to avoid happening to adults during the Covid pandemic by shutting down society. Is happening in pediatric hospitals. Except the problem is largely man-made … Peds beds across the country converted to more lucrative CoVID units never turned back.  Closed daycares, just delayed routine viral infections (peaked-instead of flattened- the curve), Peds nurses  not needed during our low volume CoVID times started traveling and never returned, less nurses means less staffed beds and less capacity…We’re rationing care. We are keeping sick kids in adult EDs and coaching over taxed community ED providers through hours of pediatric acute care.  My ED understaffed to see normal volumes is now routinely seeing 150% patients more that we have capacity for.

Yet not a peep from politicians or decision makers. Kids don’t vote.