Jul 1, 2022 - COVID

COVID vaccines for kids under 5 off to slow start

Alissa Widman Neese

Illustration of a hand holding a toy syringe. — Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

In the week since children as young as 6 months became eligible for COVID-19 shots, the share of Ohio families obtaining them remains low.

By the numbers: About 7,200 kids under 5 — just 1.5% of those eligible — have received a vaccine so far, the Ohio Department of Health reported yesterday.

That includes 1,800 kids in Franklin County, or about 2% of eligible children.

The big picture: An April study from the Kaiser Family Foundation found 18% of parents with children under 5 said they intended to vaccinate them once the FDA authorized the shot, while 38% said they would wait and see what happened.

Nearly 40% said they would vaccinate their child only if required.

Between the lines: As more providers receive shipments in the weeks ahead, it's likely that access and uptake will grow, even if just a little.

What's next: The state's vaccine data dashboard is updated every Thursday.

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COVID vaccines for kids under 5 off to slow start

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