Before COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5 were released in June, many parents were asking to make those vaccines available to young children.
But the new data shows that some parents’ stance may have changed.
Massachusetts ranks third nationally, with 11% of those children receiving at least one dose, according to the Boston Globe. Washington DC ranked first, with nearly 18%, and Vermont ranked second.
Pediatricians say they expected some hesitation, and according to the Globe, surveys predicted that only about one in five parents would actually plan to vaccinate children in that age group. However, the numbers so far are lower than many pediatricians expected at this time. Immunization rates for these young children are lower than any other age group in the state.
As a result, some doctors say they have actually had to throw out some of these vaccines because they are not being used.
“It feels gross. I hate waste,” Arlington physician Dr. Wayne Altman told the Globe.
If you are considering vaccination for your young children and still have questions, pediatricians recommend that you contact them with your questions.
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