Why Covid vaccination rates in kids are lagging

Confusion around the Covid vaccine for young children has led to a sluggish uptake of five to 11-year-olds being jabbed. Find out what the experts say about these common Covid myths.

Half of all children aged five to 11 have not received a single dose of the Covid vaccine as experts blame misinformation for the sluggish uptake.

Just 49.3 per cent of the age group has received their first dose of the vaccine while just 23.7 per cent are fully vaccinated.

The rates have bucked Australia’s usual trend of very high levels of childhood immunisation for other illnesses.

Experts say parents should not be alarmed about their kids catching Covid, but vaccination remained an important defence.

Less than half of all five to 11-year-olds are vaccinated against Covid. Picture: David Geraghty

Infectious diseases paediatrician Robert Booy said the low statistics reflected “complacency” and a delay in children being vaccinated because they have already been infected. 

“There is a different risk profile and that is influencing parental behaviour. There are also delays because many children are infected and they are waiting a month to get vaccinated,” he said.

“I expect the (immunisation) figure to get to between 60 to 70 per cent and that is as good as or better than most countries.”

Infectious diseases expert Professor Paul Griffin said although the risk of severe illness is low, parents should be aware of the risk of Multi System Inflammatory Syndrome. 

Experts say parents are falling prey to vaccine misinformation. Picture: Nikki Short. Picture: Nikki Short

MSIS occurs in about one in 3000 children with Covid and is an inflammatory reaction that starts two to four weeks after the infection.

It can see inflammation in the skin, heart, lungs and other organs and can cause hospitalisation and intensive care admissions. 

Prof Griffin said parents were being influenced by misinformation that caused an “inappropriately low perception of risk”.

I followed clinical trials really closely. I have three kids in that age bracket and they all got vaccinated the first day it was unavailable,” he said.

“The main thing is to seek out reputable information.”

VACCINATION MYTH BUSTING:

1. Side effects

Many parents are concerned about myocarditis being a side effect of the Pfizer vaccine but research has shown that the heightened risk of myocarditis is in teenage boys, not children aged five to 11 years.

2. Risk of severe illness

Although children have much lower risk of severe illness, it still exists. 

3. Lasting impacts

Again, children have a lower risk of getting long-Covid but one in 3000 infected children can get multi system inflammatory syndrome.