why younger Victorians are less likely to get vaxxed

The state has reported shockingly low vaccination rates in children, with under 40 per cent of the state’s five-year old’s vaccinated against Covid-19.

Less than 40 per cent of Victorian five-year old’s have now been vaccinated, while more than half of all eligible kids aged under 11 are still yet to receive a jab.

New Department of Health data which breaks down vaccination rates by age group has revealed that younger children are less likely to get a Covid-19 vaccine, compared to their older counterparts.

Of the 578,499 children aged between five and 11-years-old across the state, 265,037 – or 46 per cent – have received one dose, according to exclusive data available from February 1.

Those aged 11 are leading the race with 51.6 per cent of their respective cohort now vaccinated, which accounts for 15.6 per cent of the total five-to-11-year age group.

Over the last month children have been able to receive the Pfizer paediatric vaccine, which consists of a smaller dose that was created specifically for their age group.

Nurse immuniser Chiara Cartwright shows a vial of the COVID-19 vaccine (L-R) Nathan Edwards (9), Elijah Gibbs (8) and William Edwards (7). Picture: Aaron Francis

Since the paediatric rollout began on January 10, just 39 per cent of Victorian five-year old’s – 33,025 kids out of 84,520, a figure provided by ABS data used by governments to estimate populations and calculate vaccination rates – have received one dose.

More than 34,000 six-year old’s – or 40 per cent of that age group – are vaccinated with one shot, while 36,862 (43 per cent) seven-year old’s and 38,084 (46 per cent) eight-year old’s have also received some level of protection.

Meanwhile, 49 per cent of kids aged nine and 10 years old are also vaccinated with one dose.

Prominent child psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg said it wasn’t surprising to see younger children falling slightly behind.

“I think there’s obviously some vaccine hesitancy in the parents of the younger children,” Dr Carr-Gregg said.

“Speaking generally, parents of older children may better understand the importance of education and also have prior understanding of the ‘no jab, no learn’ rules. Maybe that perception isn’t as clear for parents of younger children, but that’s where the government needs to come in and incentivise the jab because it’s so crucial that kids are vaccinated.

“The advantages are so clear in the sense that you’ll have kids who can socialise with other kids and go to school which is absolutely crucial for their development.”

Infectious diseases paediatrician Robert Booy said child vaccination rates may have started to slow because of two key factors.

A doctor inoculates 5-year-old Phillip with the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Picture: Hannibal Hanschke

“It’s dropping off for two reasons and that is the fact the most enthusiastic kids (and their parents) have rushed to get vaccinated, but also because school is now back,” he said.

“Older children, who are nearly teens are, generally, more understanding and less scared of needles, but they’re also more at risk of being sick.”

Professor Booy said children aged between three and seven years old were at least risk of being hospitalised with the virus, but that vaccinations were important to minimise transmission and keep everyone safe.

“Getting vaccinated is all about the child’s welfare in the widest possible sense,” he said.

“It’d be great to get every kid vaccinated quickly because about 20 per cent of children, let’s say, who are socially and physically vulnerable account for 80 per cent of disease. If you can get those cohorts vaccinated, you are potentially saving a lot of spread.”

From this weekend, vulnerable children will be invited to get vaccination at nine new pop-up jab clinics at iconic Melbourne locations including the zoo, aquarium and Scienceworks.