Most CT Parents May Pass On Kids' Vaccination: Survey Results

CONNECTICUT — If you are waiting until every child is vaccinated against the coronavirus before sending yours back to school, be prepared to wait a very long time. That's the big takeaway from the latest Patch survey on the vaccine, which focused on its administration to the youngest age tier.

Nearly 40 percent of Patch readers who could have their children aged 12-15 vaccinated told us they would not. A little over 22 percent said they intended to get their children jabbed, if they hadn't already, and 7.4 percent were undecided. The remainder didn't have any children in the age group.

We also asked readers who didn't have children under the age of 16 if they would vaccinate them if they did, and 61.5 percent said they would.

The two-dose coronavirus vaccine from Pfizer received emergency medical authorization for children aged 12-15 last week, and Connecticut quickly made it available to its youngest demographic. The low demand for the vaccine at this late stage of the rollout has meant that children, accompanied by their parents, can usually just walk into a nearby clinic or participating pharmacy for a jab.

The survey was available from 6 p.m. May 12 through 9 a.m. May 19. We asked about readers' perception of the safety of effectiveness of the vaccines, their vaccination status, and whether they would vaccinate their children. We received 1,810 total responses, but not all questions were required.

The survey is not meant to be a scientific poll, but rather a broad look at the public's mindset. It represents a break from the generally trusting feeling toward vaccinations in past Patch informal surveys.

Patch readers' overly dim view of vaccinating children won't come as much of a surprise when you realize their confidence in the vaccine itself is hardly the highest. A little over 60 percent said they were either "highly confident" or "somewhat confident" in the vaccine's efficacy.

The biggest promoters of the vaccine's effectiveness were also completely behind its use on children under the age of 16. "The vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective. Everyone should help protect our community, and themselves, and do their part by being vaccinated, even kids," one reader said

Just over 63 percent of the responders had already received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, which is pretty much in line with the data for the state overall, as released by the Department of Public Health. But over a third of the Patch readers who took the poll (33.4 percent) said they not only have not had a first dose, but don't plan on getting vaccinated, period.

For many of them, the vaccine is not "safe and effective," but "so risky," and it's "...absurd that parents are even considering this. There has been no study done to let us know the long term effects, the vaccine companies are not held liable, and this is not FDA approved. It is only approved for emergency use."

An even lower percentage of Patch readers who took the survey expressed confidence that the vaccines were even safe. Just under 55 percent were either "highly confident" or "somewhat confident" the vaccine would not jeopardize children's health in some way, and over 25 percent were "highly unconfident" of its safety.

But for many Patch readers, the vaccination against COVID-19 should not only be considered safe, but a civic and moral obligation:

"If people want to live in communities with other people, they have a responsibility to keep others safe, and that's what getting a vaccine is. It keeps yourself and those around you safe. Vaccination is a civic duty and if you choose not to get one, please consider living on your own, away from others, far away in the woods somewhere."

For those whom a forest banishment is not a reasonable option, one reader had this idea:

"Anyone who chooses not to vaccinate, unless of an allergy, should have an ankle monitor attached and told to stay home. If they leave their home they will be arrested and put in jail until they receive their vaccine!"

But most readers in favor of vaccinating children were less about the extreme punishment, and more focused on herd immunity: "The sooner we get everyone vaccinated, the sooner we can all return to normal," one wrote, summing up a commonly-expressed sentiment.

Although he signed a law earlier this legislative session that eliminated religious objections for vaccines, Gov. Ned Lamont has given no indication the state would add the coronavirus to the list of diseases against which Connecticut public school children must be inoculated. If he does, Patch's survey results indicate it won't be a popular move. Over 52 percent who took the poll are against the idea. Another 7.2 percent marked themselves as being "undecided," and 40.7 percent said they were on board with making the coronavirus vaccine required for school children.

Dozens of readers made a point of telling us they would hit the road if Connecticut required students to receive the coronavirus vaccine along with rest of their childhood immunizations.

"Mandating a vaccine for children for something that rarely affects them is ridiculous. If CT decides to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for children to return to school my family will move out of state. Children have taken the brunt of restrictions for an illness that does not affect them or rarely does," one reader said.

Several people who took the survey identified themselves as educators and were universally in favor of making the coronavirus vaccine mandatory in Connecticut schools:

"My 17 year old is fully vaccinated and thrilled to be back at school in person. My husband and I are teachers and got vaccine as soon as we were eligible. We should all do our parts to help solve this public health crisis."

...as did many health care workers:

"The only way to get this pandemic under control is to vaccinate ALL! I'm a nurse, fully vaccinated. I am all for vaccinations and making them requirements for school!!! I would feel more at ease if my 7yr old was vaccinated!"

Most who took the survey didn't want to see the coronavirus vaccine come anywhere near any 7-year-olds, however. Over 53 percent said they would not administer the coronavirus vaccine to a child under the age of 12.

For other Patch readers, age is not a factor if it means you can whip the 'rona a little earlier: "I believe the more quickly more people of ALL ages are vaccinated the faster we'll see this pandemic in our rearview mirrors."

A large number of readers who opposed vaccinating children invoked the spirit and language of reproductive freedom advocates: "Our bodies our choice. The government does not have the right to tell us what to put in our bodies."

...but that line of reasoning seemed like it struck a nerve among some of the opposition:

"Yes, anyone saying 'no, it's my right to choose' is an abusive parent and should have their child removed."

Many who favored vaccinating children expressed surprise that after we whipped mumps, polio, measles, and rubella through childhood vaccinations we would think twice about queuing kids up for a COVIC-19 vaccine.

One responder said: "Vaccines are already required. This one is no different."

...except that it is, as many readers were anxious to point out:

"This isn't like the typical childhood vaccines where the underlying diseases have horrifying consequences and the vaccines have established safety profiles going back decades. In this case, the technology behind the vaccine is brand new, its long-term safety is unknown and the risk of severe COVID complications to most children is negligible."

Of course, for many who took the survey and left comments, it's not about the children. It's still about Trump. Or Biden.

In the words of one clearly weary reader, "Everything is political. Especially vaccines."