Some Long Island pediatricians
are disappointed with the amount of parents who have gotten their children
vaccinated against COVID-19 so far.
It's been more than a month since
the Food and Drug Administration authorized the vaccine for kids as young as 6
months old, but a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows 43% of parents
with children under the age of 5 said they would "definitely not"
have them vaccinated.
The same study found that 27%
of parents said they will wait to see if there any side effects in those who
get the shot, and 13% said they would only have their children vaccinated if
it's required.
The No. 1 concern cited by
parents in the survey was that the vaccine is "too new" and they are
afraid of side effects.
Experts like Dr. John Zaso, a
member of the Nassau County Board of Health and a pediatrician with a practice
in East Meadow, say that the vaccine is safe and effective.
"We have well over a year
and a half of track record giving the vaccine," Zaso says. "We
started giving it here in the office to kids 6 months and up, and we're not
seeing any major side effects."
Experts like Zaso say it's
vital that parents speak to their pediatrician before making a decision.
He says they are not naturally immune and seeing some children get COVID over and over again.
"Those kids that get
multiple cases can on to develop long COVID, which is a big problem," Zaso
says. "So, we want to avoid those long-term complications by vaccinating
earlier on."
Only 17% of parents with
children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years say they have gotten their
children vaccinated.
Only about a third of U.S.
children aged 5 to 11 have been vaccinated even though approval for that age
group was granted in October.