text: Hospitalizations Associated with COVID 19 Among Children and Adolescents COVID NET 14 States March 1 2020 August 14 2021 Although COVID 19 associated hospitalizations and deaths have occurred more frequently in adults sup sup COVID 19 can also lead to severe outcomes in children and adolescents 1 2 Schools are opening for in person learning and many prekindergarten children are returning to early care and education programs during a time when the number of COVID 19 cases caused by the highly transmissible B 1 617 2 Delta variant of SARS CoV 2 the virus that causes COVID 19 is increasing sup sup Therefore it is important to monitor indicators of severe COVID 19 among children and adolescents This analysis uses Coronavirus Disease 2019 Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network COVID NET sup sup data to describe COVID 19 associated hospitalizations among U S children and adolescents aged 0 17 years During March 1 2020 August 14 2021 the cumulative incidence of COVID 19 associated hospitalizations was 49 7 per 100 000 children and adolescents The weekly COVID 19 associated hospitalization rate per 100 000 children and adolescents during the week ending August 14 2021 1 4 was nearly five times the rate during the week ending June 26 2021 0 3 among children aged 0 4 years the weekly hospitalization rate during the week ending August 14 2021 was nearly 10 times that during the week ending June 26 2021 During June 20 July 31 2021 the hospitalization rate among unvaccinated adolescents aged 12 17 years was 10 1 times higher than that among fully vaccinated adolescents Among all hospitalized children and adolescents with COVID 19 the proportions with indicators of severe disease such as intensive care unit ICU admission after the Delta variant became predominant June 20 July 31 2021 were similar to those earlier in the pandemic March 1 2020 June 19 2021 Implementation of preventive measures to reduce transmission and severe outcomes in children is critical including vaccination of eligible persons universal mask wearing in schools recommended mask wearing by persons aged 2 years in other indoor public spaces and child care centers sup sup and quarantining as recommended after exposure to persons with COVID 19 sup sup 