Youngest Melrose Children Quick To Get Vaccinated

MELROSE, MA — The youngest age group eligible for inoculation against COVID-19 has been quick to receive shots ahead of what appears to be another possibly troubling pandemic winter.

Sixty-five percent, or 1,489, of Melrose children between the ages of 5 and 11 have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to public health data released on Thanksgiving.

That number is markedly higher than any of Melrose's neighboring communities. The city outpaces Wakefield (47 percent,) Stoneham (43,) Medford (39,) Malden (18) and Saugus (16) by a wide margin.

A recent vaccination clinic in Wakefield helped boost Melrose's pediatric vaccination numbers. The clinic, held the Saturday before Thanksgiving at the Galvin Middle School, saw about 212 Melrose children receive shots. That's more than 9 percent of the city's population in that age group.

"We're optimistic that this will help make the surge that's being predicted less impactful on Melrose," Superintendent Julie Kukenberger said at last week's School Committee meeting.

Mayor Paul Brodeur called the Wakefield clinic "a tremendous effort and there's a lot of people to thanks."

Melrose overall remains one of the most highly vaccinated communities in Massachusetts.

The number of children who are being vaccinated in the weeks since the government approved the shot for them will only help the city fight off what looks like might be another spike in COVID-19 cases this winter.

Grades 1-6 account for 77 of the 113 student cases reported by the district so far. On Sunday night Roosevelt Principal Mary Beth Maranto reported three fourth-grade students tested positive for COVID-19 and the school has identified a dozen close contacts. Maranto implored families to keep kids home if they feel at all unwell.

Kukenberger hoped families would be safe during the Thanksgiving break, as the holiday is what last year kicked off a massive surge in cases that lasted into 2021.

"As much as we want to be done with the pandemic, it is not yet done with us," she said.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi and Instagram at Melrose Happening. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.