A ‘tripledemic’ hitting kids across the country has some people blaming ‘immunity debt.’ But experts say that’s misguided—and even damaging

A little boy getting a doctor checkup. (Credit: Luis Alvarez—Getty Images)

This fall, North American kids are not alright.

Pediatric hospitals are brimming with an unusually high number of patients who are sick from several different viruses—predominantly RSV, flu, and COVID, but also influenza-like viruses like rhinovirus and enterovirus. Many are at or near capacity, and some are far beyond it, having made room for patient overflow in offices, gift shops, play areas, and parking-lot tents.