Lakewood Girl Dies Of COVID-19, Pierce County's First Child Death

LAKEWOOD, WA — The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department on Friday reported the county's youngest-ever pandemic fatality: a 10-year-old Lakewood girl killed by COVID-19.

The girl reportedly had multiple underlying health conditions complicating medical treatment. She died Jan. 30, the first COVID-19 death under 18 reported in Pierce County, the health department said.

"This sad news of this young girl’s death reminds us that we need to use all the best public health practices to protect each other from COVID-19," Director of Health Dr. Anthony L-T Chen said in a news release. "COVID-19 will continue to be with us for some time. Making healthy choices and getting vaccinated are the best ways to help our community recover."

Normally, children and younger patients are at less risk from COVID-19, but young people still can get very sick and even die from the disease. Early in the pandemic, 2019 Puyallup High School grad Eli Sevener died just days after being hospitalized with complications due to the coronavirus. He was just 19.

According to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, vaccination remains the best way to protect patients young and old from COVID-19, but children ages 5 to 11 are the least vaccinated age group in Pierce County, with just 19 percent fully vaccinated. In Pierce County, unvaccinated residents have been three times more likely to be infected with COVID-19, ten times more likely to be hospitalized, and nine times more likely to die, the health department said.

"Vaccines offer protection against more than COVID-19," the agency said. "No matter your age or where you live, learn, work or play, you should make sure your family is up to date on all vaccines."

Find more information on childhood immunization from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department's website.