How many children are already vaccinated against the virus as booster shots for children are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and COVID cases are increasing across the country and in the state of Illinois?
The Illinois Department of Public Health has been tracking metrics across the state.
On Friday, data showed that over 60% of Illinois children between the ages of 12 and 17 are fully vaccinated, while only 36% of children between the ages of 5 and 11 have completed a vaccination course.
Meanwhile, US government advisers said Thursday that children ages 5 to 11 should get a booster dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention quickly adopted the panel’s recommendation, opening up a third COVID-19 shot for healthy elementary school-age children — just like what’s already recommended for everyone as young as 12.
The hope is that an extra shot will boost protection for children aged 5 to 11 as infections rise again.
“Vaccination with a primary series in this age group has lagged behind other age groups and makes them vulnerable to serious disease,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky in a statement.
The US is now recording an average of 100,000 new cases per day for the first time since February. Finally, CDC advisors pointed to mounting evidence from older children and adults that two primary shots plus a booster shot provide the best protection against the latest coronavirus variants.
“Perhaps this should always have been a three-dose vaccine,” said Dr. Grace Lee of Stanford University, who chairs the CDC Advisory Board.
The booster question isn’t the hottest vaccine topic: Parents are still eagerly awaiting a chance to vaccinate children under the age of 5 – the only group not yet eligible in the US
The Food and Drug Administration has begun evaluating data from Moderna, which hopes to offer two child-sized shots by the summer.
On Monday, Pfizer announced that three doses of its vaccine provide strong protection for children under the age of 5. Pfizer plans to release the data to US regulators later this week to allow the youngest children to be vaccinated.
But even if that happens, the question remains how many parents will vaccinate their children.
“We’re really hoping to increase rates, especially for 5- to 11-year-olds,” said Dr. Jacqueline Korpics, pediatrician at Cook County Health We hope many more children will be vaccinated.”
Here’s a breakdown of immunization coverage in the Chicago area for children ages 5 to 17, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Illinois (as of 05/20/2022)
Age 5-11 – 40.38% at least one vaccination dose, 36.40% completed a vaccination course
Age 12-17 -67.67% at least one vaccination dose, 62.30% completed a vaccination series
Chicago (as of 05/20/2022)
Ages 5-11 – 53.96% at least one vaccination dose, 47.22% completed a vaccination series
Age 12-17 – 90.18% at least one vaccination dose, 81.02% completed a vaccination series
DuPage County (as of 05/20/2022)
Ages 5 to 11: 53.90% have at least one vaccine dose; 50.28% have completed a primary vaccination course
Ages 12 to 17: 79.41% receive at least one dose of vaccine; 74.65% have completed a primary vaccination course
Will County (as of 05/20/2022)
Age 5-11 38.51 at least one dose, 35.30% completed primary series
Age 12-17 67.51% at least one dose, 62.85% completed primary course
Lake County (as of 05/20/2022)
Age 5-11 52.63 at least one dose, 48.20% completed primary series
Age 12-17 80.77 at least one dose, 75.17% completed primary series
McHenry County (as of 5/20/2022)
Age 5-11 36.60% at least one dose, 34.03% completed primary course
Age 12-17 61.45% at least one dose, 57.91% completed primary course
Suburb Cook County (as of 05/16/2022)
For residents aged 5 to 11: 46.2% have at least one dose of vaccine; 36.5% have completed a vaccination series.
Residents aged 12 to 15: 74.4% have at least one dose of vaccine; 52.7% have completed a vaccination series.
Residents aged 16 to 18: 82.9% have at least one dose of vaccine; 58.6% have completed a vaccination course.
Source: Cook County Department of Health
DeKalb County (as of May 20, 2022)
Age 5-11 31.58% at least one dose, 29.02% completed primary course
Age 12-17 58.47% at least one dose, 54.79% completed primary course
Kendall County (as of 5/20/2022)
Age 5-11 39.33% at least one dose, 36.33% completed primary course
Age 12-17 74.22% at least one dose, 69.82% completed primary course
Kane County (as of 5/20/2022)
Age 5-11 37.98% at least one dose, 34.61% completed primary course
Age 12-17 66.82% at least one dose, 62.51% completed primary course
Grundy County (as of 05/20/2022)
Age 5-11 23.47% at least one dose, 21.08% completed primary course
Age 12-17 50.49% at least one dose, 46.36% completed primary course
LaSalle County (as of 05/20/2022)
Age 5-11 25.67% at least one dose, 21.21% completed primary course
Age 12-17 48.74% at least one dose, 46% completed primary course
Kankakee County (as of 5/20/2022)
Age 5-11 18.81% at least one dose, 16.88% completed primary course
Age 12-17 40.74% at least one dose, 38.05% completed primary course
