Surgeon General Vivek Murthy tests positive for COVID along with his wife and five-year-old son


Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy has tested positive for COVID-19, he announced in an 11 tweet Twitter thread Friday. His wife, Alice, and five year old son are infected as well. The news comes days after he revealed that his four year old daughter had contracted the virus.

‘Update: my 5 year old son, my wife Alice, and I have all tested positive for COVID-19. Our son has a runny nose and low grade fever but is otherwise eating, drinking, playing with his sister, and watching his favorite cartoons,’ Murthy wrote in a tweet, reporting his family members are all in good health despite the infection.

He also said that his daughter is still experiencing congestion and a cough, but is doing well and is in good spirits as well.

Biden’s top health official wrote a seperate, eight tweet thread, about his daughters infection earlier this week, where he clamored for regulators to approve Covid vaccines for young children. 

Murthy is pictured (center) with his family above. Murthy's wife Alice Chen is to the far right holding their daughter, 4, and their son, 5, is to the left

Murthy is pictured (center) with his family above. Murthy’s wife Alice Chen is to the far right holding their daughter, 4, and their son, 5, is to the left

Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy revealed in a tweet that himself, his wife and his young son have all been infected with COVID-19. His son has a low fever but is feeling well, he says

Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy revealed in a tweet that himself, his wife and his young son have all been infected with COVID-19. His son has a low fever but is feeling well, he says

Dr Murthy and his wife, Alice, are both suffering mild symptoms and their breathing if 'fine', he wrote on Twitter

Dr Murthy and his wife, Alice, are both suffering mild symptoms and their breathing if ‘fine’, he wrote on Twitter

Earlier this week, Murthy's four year old daughter was infected with Covid. He reports that she is in good health as well

Earlier this week, Murthy’s four year old daughter was infected with Covid. He reports that she is in good health as well

‘Alice and I have mild symptoms. She has a headache and fatigue. I’m experiencing muscle aches, chills, and sore throat. Our breathing is fine, thankfully. It has been chaotic at home with all of us sick but I wouldn’t want to navigate this with anyone but Alice,’ Murthy said.

Children face little risk from Covid infection 

Young people are among the least likely demographics to contract or fall fatally ill from COVID-19 

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that children make up less than 0.1 percent of deaths from the virus since the pandemic began in early 2020.

A study performed last autumn by the researchers at the University of Utah – before the more mild Omicron variant arrived – found that half of pediatric Covid cases were asymptomatic. 

Some experts disagree that the COVID-19 vaccine is needed in children due to the small risk they face once infected 

A study finds that half of children who contracted COVID-19 did not experience symptoms of the virus compared to only 12% of adults

A study finds that half of children who contracted COVID-19 did not experience symptoms of the virus compared to only 12% of adults

He said that he and his wife made the choice to comfort their infected daughter by being close with her physically, which is likely what exposed them to the virus.

Earlier this week, Murthy said his daughter’s infection spurred him to want vaccinations to become available to young children under the age of five even more.

There are currently three vaccines approved for use in the U.S. from Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. None of them are permitted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for anyone under the age of 5. Mask mandates are also not implemented for children under two-years-old.

‘I wish a vaccine was available for my child and for all kids <5,’ Murthy tweeted in announcing his four-year-old’s case. ‘It would protect kids and help parents,’ Murthy said in a thread written Tuesday about his daughter’s infection.

‘Unfortunately more data is still needed from clinical trials for the FDA to make a full assessment. I know a safe, effective vaccine for <5s remains a top priority for them.’

As of last week, at least 76 percent of the U.S. population received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 64 percent are considered fully vaccinated – meaning it is two weeks past the point of their first or second and final dose. Pfizer and Moderna require two jabs, while Johnson & Johnson only requires one. 

There are discussions and considerations over whether to expand the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ to those who have also received their booster shots.

At least 27 percent of the population has received a booster dose as of February 18, 2022.  

Young people are among the least likely demographics to contract or fall fatally ill from the disease, leading to questions why vaccine or mask mandates would be implemented on children in schools.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that children make up less than 0.1 percent of deaths from the virus since the pandemic began in early 2020.

Murthy said that his family chose not to isolate their young daughter when she got sick, but to instead provide physically close comforting, which likely exposed them to the virus as well

Murthy said that his family chose not to isolate their young daughter when she got sick, but to instead provide physically close comforting, which likely exposed them to the virus as well

A study performed last autumn by the researchers at the University of Utah – before the more mild Omicron variant arrived – found that half of pediatric Covid cases were asymptomatic.

Some experts, like Dr Cody Meissner, a member of an FDA advisory panel that will review Pfizer’s application for the jab in young children, also disagree that the shot is needed. 

‘While our child will likely be ok given she’s young and otherwise healthy, I know parents with higher risk kids may worry more,’ Murthy tweeted on Tuesday in a nod to immunocompromised children.

‘Few things are worse than worrying about your child’s health. The more we all get vaccinated and take precautions, the more we can protect all our kids,’ he insisted.

Murthy went on to say that getting infected with Covid was not a moral failing, but instead an unavoidable fact of the pandemic at the moment. Thousands of fully vaccinated Americans are being infected by the variant fairly regularly.

‘When you’ve been as safe as you can, getting COVID-19 can be frustrating and disappointing. I’ve felt that. It can also be a source of shame. Many people assume you must have been careless to get sick. Our safety measures reduce risk but they can’t eliminate risk. Nothing can,’ he said in a tweet. 

‘So if you’ve done everything you can and gotten COVID-19 anyway, don’t beat yourself up. A lot of us are doing the best we can. And let’s not assume those who get sick are careless. We don’t know people’s circumstances. They may not be able to protect themselves the way we can.’



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