Should RI Children Get The COVID-19 Vaccine? Take Our Survey

This week is the first Rhode Island residents ages 12 to 15 can get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The announcement came swiftly after Pfizer's vaccine was cleared for the younger population the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"CDC now recommends that this vaccine be used among this population, and providers may begin vaccinating them right away," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said.

Now parents who have already decided whether or not to get the relatively new vaccine must decide if they want the same for their children, a group generally much resistant to the ill effects of COVID-19.

Moderna executives said the Massachusetts-based company is still weeks ago from authorization for people under 16.

The availability of vaccines for children begs the question of what the state may require for schoolchildren in the fall. Most students are already required to get certain vaccinations, but the coronavirus vaccination has stirred suspicion and fear of government overreach in some people.

Many colleges and universities are requiring students to get vaccinated before coming to campus in the fall.

Rhode Island this week surpassed 1 million people being fully vaccinated. Each of those people had been over the age of 16.

Patch wants to know where you stand on children being vaccinated against the coronavirus. Fill out our survey, which will end by midday Sunday, and the results of which will be shared in the following days.

The survey is not meant to be a scientific poll, with random sampling and margins of error, but is meant only to gauge the sentiments of our readers in an informal way.