PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island ranked first in the nation for child vaccination rates for COVID-19 and flu, according to a study by QuoteWizard by Lendingtree released Monday.
Analysts looked at vaccination rates for COVID-19 and the flu among school-aged children younger than 17. They collected data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, combining the score of flu and COVID-19 vaccination rates to determine each state’s overall vaccination rates. Data for COVID-19 vaccination rates studied the number of children that received at least an initial dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
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Rhode Island ranked first in the country, with vaccination rates of 80% for COVID-19 and 79% for flu, followed closely by Massachusetts and Connecticut. The Bay State had a vaccination rate of 82% for COVID-19 and 56% for the flu, while the numbers were 75% and 60% respectively for Connecticut.
At the bottom of the list are Wyoming, Mississippi and Tennessee, with COVID-19 vaccination rates of 30%, 32% and 33% respectively and flu vaccination rates of 29%, 27% and 32% respectively.
The report found that vaccination rates for both COVID-19 and the flu were higher among older children 12-17 and among children living in the Northeast and Western areas of the United States.
Data analyzed by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that in Rhode Island 64% of children 5-11 have received at least the initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while the number goes up to 95% for children 12-17.
Joseph Wendelken from the R.I. Department of Health said the department’s data suggests similar trends: Rhode Island children are well vaccinated, compared to other states. Education and collaboration between entities seems to be one of the reasons for these results.
“The Governor’s Office, RIDOH, RIDE, and agencies and organizations throughout the state worked in a coordinated away to communicate to parents and families about the importance of vaccination against COVID-19,” Wendelken said. “In addition to education, access was a priority. COVID-19 vaccine was available at schools throughout the state, similar to how we make flu vaccine available. This was on top of other public settings, such as community clinics.”
Access and affordability were important also in the campaign to vaccinate against the flu. In particular, Wendelken said, the universal vaccine program allowed patients regardless of insurance status to access the vaccine at no cost from primary care providers and other healthcare providers enrolled in the program.
The overall vaccination rate for children in the country stands at 43% for COVID-19 and 47% for the flu, according to the report. Nationwide, 41 million children haven’t received a COVID-19 vaccine and 39 million have not gotten a flu shot.
(Update: Comment from R.I. Department of Health added in 7th, 8th and 9th paragraphs)
