A Verywell Report: COVID Vaccines for Kids Will Move the Needle for America

A new analysis from Verywell finds that at least 65% of Americans are projected to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of 2021.

In the immediate future, vaccinations among kids and teens, specifically, will be the biggest driver of increased vaccination rates in the United States. And if current trends continue, 56% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 could be fully vaccinated before the new year, compared to 51% at time of publishing.

What about younger kids? In October, children aged 5 to 11 became eligible for vaccination. About 10% of children in this age group have received their first dose, the White House announced on November 17. By year’s end, 22% of this age group is expected to be fully vaccinated.

This number is based on the trajectory of vaccinations seen among 12- to 17-year-olds. But we already know that the vaccination trends for the younger age group may not precisely mirror the rollout for teens. The younger the kids, the more parents worry.

In a late October survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, about half of parents said their 12- to 17-year-old child is vaccinated or will be “right away.” Comparatively, 27% of parents of children aged 5 to 11 said they would have their child vaccinated right away, and a third said they plan to “wait and see.” For both groups, 3 in 10 parents said they will definitely not have their child vaccinated.

According to the Verywell vaccine sentiment tracker, the largest concern for surveyed parents of school-aged children is the risk of side effects, though they are even more apprehensive of their child getting COVID-19 and experiencing long-term effects.

Why Vaccinating Kids Matters for Everyone

If our projections for increased vaccination rates among kids hold true, 15 states may well be on their way to fully vaccinating 70% of their populations by the end of the year.

While experts say the elusive goal of ending the pandemic by reaching “herd immunity” is likely out of reach at this point, a 70% vaccination rate across communities could be instrumental in tamping down widespread transmission.

Puerto Rico boasts the highest vaccination rate of the U.S. states and territories, with nearly 74% of the population vaccinated today. Vermont follows closely behind at more than 71%. By the end of the year, the top four states and territories may see vaccination rates over 78%.

West Virginia is lagging behind the rest, at only 41% of the populace currently vaccinated. The five states at the bottom of the list are expected to fall short of the 50% mark by year’s end.

Vaccinating Children Can Limit COVID-19 Spread Ahead of the Holidays

While adults are known to experience more severe outcomes of COVID-19, unvaccinated children are still vulnerable to serious illness and death and can suffer the effects of long COVID-19 if they are infected.

As we enter the holiday season, experts say that even one dose of the vaccine can minimize the risk of children spreading COVID-19 to more vulnerable loved ones, like grandparents and older adults who are more susceptible to breakthrough cases.

A variety of sites offer vaccinations for kids across the country. You can contact your child’s pediatrician or general care team to see if they offer vaccine appointments or visit major pharmacies, including locations like CVS, Walgreens and Walmart. Many communities have also set up clinics at trusted locations like schools and places of worship.

Kids aged 5 to 11 receive a smaller dose than adults and teens. Vaccination sites like pharmacies and doctors’ offices were slower to roll out the vaccine after authorization for the younger age group because sites had to wait for new inventory shipments from Pfizer.

You can check for available appointments near you at Vaccines.gov. All clinics that appear on this site have vaccines on hand to dole out to youngsters.

November 23, 2021: A previous version of this projection miscalculated the number of 12-17-year-olds in the United States, slightly underestimating their year-end vaccination rate.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.