A recent survey highlights that a significant number of parents remain apprehensive about the safety of COVID-19 vaccinations for their children. Despite vaccines now being available for individuals aged 5 and older in the U.S., many parents are still hesitant about vaccinating their kids.
Conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation over a two-week period in mid-November, the survey found that only about 50% of parents are confident in the vaccine’s safety for adolescents, while just 44% feel the same way about younger children. In comparison, 64% of parents believe the vaccine is safe for adults. Currently, only half of children aged 12-17 have received the vaccine, with the figure for younger kids aged 5-11 sitting at just 29%. Additionally, a third of parents of younger children expressed a desire to “wait and see” before proceeding with vaccination, while nearly 30% stated they would “definitely not” vaccinate their children.
A significant factor contributing to this slow uptake appears to be misinformation and a lack of reliable information regarding the vaccine. About 60% of parents reported feeling they do not have enough knowledge about the vaccine’s effectiveness, potential side effects, and overall safety for children. Dr. Linda Johnson, a pediatric expert, stated, “Historically, parents tend to be more cautious when it comes to their children’s health than their own.” She noted that safety concerns have always been a primary issue for parents, and many feel under-informed.
While data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that severe side effects from the COVID vaccine in children are rare, public trust in the CDC has declined from 66% in July to 57% by November. Although over 75% of parents trust their child’s pediatrician, less than half have discussed the COVID vaccine with them.
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Summary:
A recent survey reveals that many parents are still wary of COVID-19 vaccine safety for their children, with only half confident in its safety for teens and even fewer for younger kids. Misinformation and lack of knowledge are key factors in this hesitation. While trust in the CDC has decreased, pediatricians remain a trusted source for parents.
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COVID-19 vaccine safety, parental concerns, children’s health, vaccine hesitancy, pediatricians, CDC trust, Kaiser Family Foundation survey