Patch Readers On COVID Vaccine: We'd Consider Shots For Kids

NEW YORK CITY — Most Patch readers surveyed agree — coronavirus vaccines are safe and should be considered by adults and children alike.

A Patch survey last week about confidence in COVID-19 vaccines for children drew 303 responses.

In question after question, a majority of readers expressed confidence in the vaccines' safety, effectiveness and use for children under 16.

"There are certain societal responsibilities that we all should fulfill and voluntarily step up to the plate," one reader wrote. "Getting a COVID-19 vaccination is one of them (provided your trusted medical professional feels the advantages of receiving it outweigh the disadvantages, if any). If we want to see the day when we can return to 'normal' then we all need to get vaccinated as soon as it is available to get - which should be NOW."

The survey results followed the recent decision to open up vaccinations to New Yorkers who are between 12 and 15 and debates over whether school children should be required to be get shots.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has rejected suggestions of mandatory vaccinations for students. He said the school's safety measures are so effective they make it unnecessary.

"We're going to see a lot of young people vaccinated for sure, and we're really excited about that," he told WNYC's Brian Lehrer last week. "But, no, clearly, we kept our schools safe without requiring vaccination. And I want everybody back in school in September, everybody. And even if that means there are some people not ready to get vaccinated, that's fine."

About 83 percent of Patch readers who responded said if they had children under 16 that they'd consider having them vaccinated, according to results.

Nearly 90 percent of Patch readers who responded to the survey said they've had at least one shot of vaccine.

Of those who responded, roughly 87 percent — or 262 readers — declared themselves either "highly confident" or "somewhat confident" in the vaccines' effectiveness.

A nearly identical percentage of readers were confident in the vaccines' safety.

Most readers — 255 of them, or 84 percent — who responded didn't have children under 16.

Of parents who had children between 12 to 15, most said they intended to have them vaccinated.

Likewise, most parents who had children under 12 said they were likely to have them vaccination if vaccines were approved, although a roughly equal percentage were undecided or would not.

A clear majority of respondents — about 74 percent — said they'd favor making vaccinations required for school attendance in the fall.

Here's an assortment of responses and opinions from readers:

• Children are required to have so many other vaccinations to attend school and so should also be required to have a COVID vaccine.
• I would require vaccinations for children age 12 and over. Need to see more data on younger children.
• Fully vaccinated and fully confident with its efficacy!!
• It's a slippery slope. You want to be extra careful with your kids. Their systems not fully developed.
• Children have to have a variety of vaccines to go to school - this should be one of them. This is public safety issue and seems so clear to me
• I don't get flu shots, but I got the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as I was eligible.
• I think both teachers and students should be required to be vaccinated, unless they have a legitimate health reason not to be. As of now, I thnk only children 12 and up can be vaccinated but that may change by September
• I can't wait until the EmergencyUseAuthorization is replaced by a full use CDC authorization so the vaccines can be made mandatory for schools and all public services, including courts, entry into government offices, housing, medical facilities, etc. It's our social obligation to be vaccinated. The only exceptions should be for legitimate, medically-documented reasons.
• The vaccines studies are being conducted on people’s fear of the virus. I am not willing to be part of the study and not much confidence in the Moderma or Pfizer vaccines. Too much is unknown. I will have more confidence when there are true findings in the vaccines.