Rhode Island No. 1 In U.S. For Child Vaccination Rates: Report

RHODE ISLAND — Rhode Island ranks first in the United States for flu and COVID-19 vaccination rates among children, according to data collected by Lending Tree.

According to the report, about 80 percent of Rhode Island children under 17 received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 79 percent have gotten a flu vaccine.

"Coronavirus cases are rising, and flu season is in full swing," the study read. "Vaccines are a key means of protection, but nearly half of the nation’s school-age children aren’t protected. Our team of analysts found that nationwide, 57 percent of children under 17 haven’t received the coronavirus vaccine and 55 percent haven’t gotten a flu shot."

Massachusetts and Connecticut were No. 2 and No. 3 on the list, respectively. About 82 percent of children in Massachusetts got the COVID-19 vaccine, and 56 percent have gotten the flu vaccine.

The state with the lowest rate of vaccinated children was Wyoming, according to the study. About 30 percent of Wyoming children got at least one dose for COVID-19 and 29 percent for the flu.

The study also revealed that flu vaccination rates dropped by 21 percent in the U.S. amid the height of the coronavirus pandemic.