UM study: Detroit parents less likely to vaccinate themselves, their kids

[MichMan]

A University of Michigan report released this week indicates Detroit parents are less likely to vaccinate themselves than nonparents, which is leading to low youth vaccination rates in the state's largest city.

Just under half of Detroit parents and guardians of children under 18 reported at the end of last year that they had been vaccinated against COVID-19, compared to 75% of adults without children, according to the report from the Detroit Metro Communities Study, supported by UM's Poverty Solutions Initiative. About 86% of unvaccinated parents responded that they were concerned regarding the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. Additionally, 76% of parents cited doubt about the effectiveness of the vaccine as contributing to their decision to not be vaccinated.

Less than half of Detroit's eligible population has received a vaccine dose, compared to 65% of Michigan. The study noted there was no evidence of ethrecoracial differences in vaccination rate among parents; however, White Detroiters said they were more likely to vaccinate their kids.

Detroit's Chief Health Officer Denise Fair Razo said she can't speculate on the findings of the survey but is aware that vaccination rates for young children are the lowest of any eligible age group. As of Tuesday, just 12.7% of Detroit's children ages 5-11 have received at least one dose of vaccine and less than 10% are fully vaccinated. As for children ages 12-15 years old, 27% are fully vaccinated, according to the Detroit Health Department.



https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2022/03/12/um-study-detroit-parents-less-likely-vaccinate-themselves-their-kids/7014110001/