Arizona kids slow to be vaccinated against COVID-19

As a new COVID-19 variant stirs up concerns around the country, Arizona is struggling to get its youngest residents vaccinated against the infectious disease.

According to Arizona Department of Health Services spokesman Tom Herrmann, approximately 83,166 youth age 5 to 11 have been vaccinated since the age group became eligible in November. That’s a little under 13% of the 645,000 kids in that age range living in Arizona. Young people under the age of 16 are currently only eligible to receive the two-dose Pfizer vaccine.

“While we’d love to see 100% of kids vaccinated, we’re pleased that so many Arizonans so far have gotten their kids vaccinated and hope many more do so when the holiday break provides more flexibility for parents and kids,” said Hermann.