NYC Child Vaccine Rate Drops During Pandemic: Mayor’s Report

The number of vaccinated babies has plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic due to “vaccination hesitation,” according to a new report from Mayor Eric Adams’ office.

Vaccinations among children aged 19 to 35 months last summer and fall fell to 59.2% from 64.5% in the same period in 2021, the city government said in a quarterly report released Tuesday.

“The routine pediatric vaccination has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, among other factors,” the health ministry said.

“The Department is tackling growing vaccine mistrust with media campaigns, providing educational forums for health care providers and community organizations, and providing tools to discuss vaccine trust with patients and parents.”

Common childhood vaccines cover measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap), as well as chickenpox and other diseases.

The Department of Health also noted that “the decline in coverage may also be due to the decline in births in New York and the lag in census estimates of children living in the city.”

Asked for comment, the agency cited statements made last year by the health commissioner and Adams.

“The routine childhood vaccination benefit is one of the biggest public health success stories of the last century, saving millions of lives and preventing untold suffering,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Wasan.

“Ensuring our city’s children are up to date on all routine immunizations is essential to maintaining a healthy environment in which our children can grow and thrive…I encourage all parents to keep their children informed of all routine immunizations to ensure they are bright and healthy.” futures”.

There was a measles outbreak in the city — a year before the COVID-19 outbreak — because parents refused to vaccinate their children.