Key Points

• Among the population aged 0–17, SARS-CoV-2 circulation was declining across all pediatric age groups during week 2022-S41 (October 10–16, 2022). The highest incidence (249 per 100,000) was observed among 15–17-year-olds.

• As of October 17, 2022, 81.0% of 12- to 17-year-olds had received a complete primary vaccination series and 17.8% had received a booster dose. This vaccination coverage has changed very little (80.3% and 15.3%, respectively, at the end of March 2022) and remains low among 5- to 9-year-olds and 10- to 11-year-olds (2.8% and 8.3%, respectively, with a complete primary vaccination series).

• The number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 has been stable since week 2022-S37.

• Data from the PICURe network show no change in the severity of hospitalized cases. The proportion of children with comorbidities among those admitted for COVID-19 to critical care units has been higher since the Omicron variant began circulating than it was during the Delta variant period.

• As of September 18, 2022, and since the start of the epidemic, 1,076 cases of PIMS (pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome secondary to COVID-19) have been reported. These cases primarily affect children aged 3 to 11 years. The wave of COVID-19 that occurred during the summer of 2022, primarily caused by the Omicron BA.5 sublineage, was followed by a small number of PIMS cases: five cases have occurred since the beginning of August.