DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN) — As kids throughout the Wiregrass return to school, there are some concerns medical experts want parents to know.

According to the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Vice President, Dr. Nola Ernest, their goal is to see children have an uninterrupted school year. She said the Delta variant spreads very rapidly, and in a classroom setting the spread is exponential.

Ernest said if no measures are taken like distancing, masking, or vaccines, it would only take less than a couple of months for most schools to see their entire population get COVID.

“We know that COVID is spread primarily by adults,” Dr. Ernest said. “Even though children can get it and spread it to one another, the driver for the spread in our community is spread among adults.”

Doctor Ernest tells WDHN if adults who are eligible to get vaccinated receive the vaccine, it will slow down the spread of the Delta variant, which in return will protect our children.