The Kids Are Alright?

Thus far, more than 1,400 US children have died from Covid19 infections. Around 50% of these, were kids under 5 years of age. In the US, children under 5 became eligible for vaccination shots on the 18th of June 2022. An expansive study, following children aged 5-11 years, found the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine was extremely effective in preventing a Covid19 infection. This vaccination also stopped young children being hospitalised or even dying. In spite of these facts, only circa 6% of US children under 5, have currently received their first vaccine shot (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/22/covid-child-vaccination-rates-us-low). The 'reasons' for the low uptake of vaccines for US children under 5, appear quite complex. It's not just, that some moms and dads are still worried about the safety and efficacies of vaccines. Many parents have apparently absorbed (and retained?) the early pandemic message, that Covid19 is primarily a disease of vulnerable adults, rather than children. Some people simply want believe assurances that the pandemic is 'over'. Others, even deliberately 'close their ears' to developments like the appearance of new viral variants. Political considerations also clearly play a role. In Republican states, only 2% of children under 5 have been vaccinated. Meanwhile, paediatric beds in hospitals are filling up and educational programmes being disrupted. Perhaps people should be getting a stronger pro-vaccination advice from their doctors when on a pre-school/nursery entry visit? Prevention is better than cure.