Many Parents Don't Want Kids Under 5 Vaccinated Against Covid

 

By Jay Croft

July 26, 2022 -- A new survey reports 43% of parents say they won’t vaccinate their children younger than 5 against COVID-19.

The study published Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation also reported wide variations in responses based on parents’ political affiliations, their own vaccination status, race and income.

In June, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved vaccinations for kids as young as 6 months.

So far, 17% of parents of kids between 6 months and 5 years said their child has been vaccinated or will be shortly. Others said they are concerned about effectiveness and potential long-term side effects, with 13% saying they’ll vaccinate their young kids if required for school or childcare.

The percentage against vaccinating young kids is slightly higher than resistance to vaccinating older children – 37% for kids 5 to 11, and 28% for children 12 to 17, the survey says.

“Just 21% of Democrat-leaning parents said they would not vaccinate their young child, compared with 64% of Republican-leaning parents,” CNN reported. “The survey found 27% of vaccinated parents said they would not vaccinate their child, compared with 64% of unvaccinated parents.”

More than 4 in 10 Black parents said they were worried about leaving work for the vaccinations. A similar percentage of Hispanics were concerned about finding trusted providers.

"Across income groups, a majority of parents with household incomes of at least $90,000 say they think the information from federal health agencies about vaccinating children under 5 is clear, while majorities of those with lower incomes say it is confusing," the report’s authors said.

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