COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Children and Adolescents

COVID-19 vaccination coverage among Black children was lower than among Asian, Hispanic, and other/multiple race children aged 5-11 years.

Highlights:

Asian and Hispanic children and teens have the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the country
75% of Asian children received at least one dose of the vaccination, while 49% of Hispanic/Latino children, 45% of white children, and 43% of Black children did not
To increase immunization rates, it must be easy for families to obtain the vaccine

There are significant racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 immunization rates among children, with Asian children being the most likely to get vaccinated and Black children being the least likely, suggested a new study.

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‘COVID-19 vaccination coverage is highest among non-Hispanic Asian children (63%–92%), followed by Hispanic children (35%–77%).’

Why Parents did not Vaccinate their Children Against COVID-19

According to CDC findings, parents who did not vaccinate their children claiming safety concerns were more likely to have unvaccinated friends and family and were less likely to indicate a healthcare provider recommended immunization.

The findings are significant, according to the researchers, because people who are Black, Hispanic, or Latino have a higher chance of being infected, hospitalized, or dying as a result of COVID-19. “This is due to underlying circumstances that affect health, such as socioeconomic status, access to health care, and occupational exposure to the virus, such as frontline, crucial, and critical infrastructure employees,” according to the CDC.

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Increasing COVID-19 Vaccination for Children and Adolescents

“Enhanced public health efforts are needed to increase COVID-19 vaccination coverage for all children and adolescents,” researchers wrote. “To increase overall coverage and address disparities in child and adolescent COVID-19 vaccination coverage, providers and trusted messengers should provide culturally relevant information and vaccine recommendations.”

According to survey data, among children aged 5 to 17:

73.4% of Asian respondents had been immunized

49% of Hispanic or Latino respondents had been immunized

49% of multiracial respondents and those who identified as ‘other’ had vaccinations

45% of white respondents had been immunized

44.7% of black respondents have been immunized

The data comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Immunization Survey. From December 2020 to September 2022, the survey collected information on vaccination status from 94,838 families with children aged six months to 17 years old. The responses were gathered between September 2021 and September 2022.

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Age, Family Income Trends Commonly Seen in Vaccinated Children

Vaccination of children was most common among individuals aged 12 to 17, with a college degree, and with a household income of $75,000 or more. Households that reported wearing masks in public were also more likely to claim that their children had been immunized.

Source-Medindia

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