OLYMPIA, Wash. – More than 129,000 children age 5-to-11 have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Washington State since the okay for that age group was given on November 3rd.
The State Department of Health says vaccination rates vary widely by region, with 26% of young kids getting the shots around Puget Sound but less than 8% in the south central and north central regions.
State Health Secretary Dr. Umair Shah says that while COVID is usually much milder in kids, 13 children and teens have died from the illness in Washington since the start of the pandemic.
FDA figures show the pediatric vaccine is more than 90% effective in preventing COVID-19.