Will You Vaccinate Your Child For COVID? Take The NJ Patch Survey

On Wednesday of this week, the Centers for Disease Control gave emergency-use authorization for Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine to be given to teens ages 12-15.

That same day, Gov. Phil Murphy urged parents to get their teens and adolescents vaccinated "immediately."

The question now is: Will New Jersey parents listen?

Over 3.85 million children have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics in this landmark May 6 report, considered the most recent and complete analysis of COVID and children to date.

While an official number of how many children have died of coronavirus is difficult to obtain, children make up 0.00-0.21 percent of all COVID-19 deaths, said the AAP. Approximately .03 percent of all child COVID cases have resulted in death, they found.

Both Murphy and his state Health Commissioner, Judy Persichilli, have acknowledged that COVID does not tend to seriously sicken most children who get it. However, the governor has repeatedly said the push to vaccinate children and teens will allow schools to operate more normally in the fall, plus reduce infection rates and protect teachers and older family members from the virus.

In New Jersey, 106,086 teens and children under 18 have gotten coronavirus, according to the Department of Health. Seven of those died.

Also, a rare but very serious condition called multi-inflammatory syndrome has afflicted some 3,000 children with COVID nationwide, and 116 children in New Jersey. All the NJ children had to be hospitalized. None of them died, but it is a serious syndrome that inflames the heart, lungs and brain.

So Patch wants to know, now that the vaccine is available for 12 and up, will you be taking your child for an inoculation? Fill out our survey below.