From the pandemic, we learned how to protect immunocompromised and chronically ill children from the spread of illness in public school!

·   In a survey of US children, 43% have one or more chronic health problems (Figure).

· During the pandemic, immunocompromised children and those with chronic conditions such as asthma were less likely than usual to go to the Emergency Department or be hospitalized (Figure).

· Physicians and parents believe that virtual schooling made the difference because these children were not in a classroom where they could have contracted an infection from another child who was fighting a cold or other mild illness.

· If healthy children attend school with even a mild illness, it can mean a major illness for the immunocompromised or chronically ill child.

·Post-pandemic, schools need to enforce a strict policy of children not attending school in person when ill.

· With this policy in place and virtual schooling as a viable option, there is no reason to restrict West Virginia children from attending school because of vaccination status.