US Vaccination for Ages 12 and Up Imminent... 29% of Parents Say "Won't Vaccinate Immediately"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Canada recently became the first country in the world to expand Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to ages 12 to 15. In the United States, where approval for vaccination of those aged 12 and older is expected soon, only one in three parents expressed willingness to vaccinate their children immediately.

On the 6th (local time), CNN cited data released by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), stating, "About 29% of parents with children under 18 said they would vaccinate their children as soon as the vaccine is approved."

Thirty-two percent of respondents said, "I want to see how the vaccine works before vaccinating my child." Nineteen percent said they would "never vaccinate," and 15% said they would vaccinate only if required by the school.

A government official told CNN, "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to approve Pfizer's vaccine for ages 12 to 15 as early as the beginning of next week." Pfizer conducted a Phase 3 clinical trial involving 2,260 U.S. participants aged 12 to 15, showing 100% effectiveness in preventing COVID-19.

This survey result is not significantly different from the KFF survey conducted on U.S. adults at the end of last year. In a survey released by KFF in December last year, 34% of adults said they would "get vaccinated as soon as possible," while 39% said they would "wait and see."

CNN explained, "This attitude has become more comfortable over time," adding, "According to recent KFF data, 64% of U.S. adults have already been vaccinated or said they would get vaccinated as soon as possible," and "only 15% said they would wait and see."

Scientists estimate that 70 to 90% of the population needs immunity to achieve herd immunity. Dr. Lena Wen, a medical analyst at CNN, predicted, "Experts believe it will be difficult to form herd immunity without vaccinating those aged 12 and older."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.