New York City student vaccination rates remain below pre-pandemic levels: Department of Health

Metro

by Matthew Sedacca

Vaccination rates needed for students in the Big Apple to attend school have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, city health officials said.

In the city's public and charter schools, 95.3% of K-12 students have received mandatory vaccinations, compared to 98.5% before the COVID-19 pandemic, health officials reported. did.

At Thursday's City Council hearing, Dr. Celia Quinn, deputy commissioner for disease control, said vaccination rates are down 2 to 16 percent compared to 2019, depending on the vaccine and age group.

The biggest gaps in vaccination rates are among children aged 4 to 6, or up to 3 years of age, who were infants during the worst of the pandemic.

Quinn said vaccination rates have declined during the pandemic as people have delayed regular doctor visits, and that “misinformation and disinformation about vaccines” have contributed to the decline in New Yorkers getting vaccinated. He did not add any details.

As measles cases increase in the country, news has come that vaccination rates among students in the city are declining.

As of the end of February, there were 41 confirmed cases in 15 states and New York City, compared to 58 cases overall last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So far, the city has recorded two measles cases this year, compared to just one overall last year.

According to the CDC, children should receive their first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second dose between 4 and 6 years of age.

Mr Quinn said 95% vaccination coverage for measles was enough to protect unvaccinated people from herd immunity, but added: “Wherever there are areas with low vaccination coverage, “The risk of an outbreak will increase depending on how low vaccination coverage is.” Get. “