Arizona is still seeing high levels of COVID-19 transmission, but uptake of vaccines for young children has been slow in our state. 

A month after COVID-19 vaccines became available for kids under the age of 5, fewer than 11,000 of Arizona’s youngest children have had a shot, according to the state health department. That's less than 3% of that age group.

Kaiser Family Foundation data shows Arizona’s COVID-19 vaccination rate for young children is below the national average, but rates are in the single digits nationwide.

Medical experts say the vaccines are safe and effective at preventing severe illness. Experts believe boosting vaccination rates among children will also help slow the spread of the virus among the general population. 

But, in the latest Kaiser Family Foundation poll, more than 40% of U.S. parents said they definitely would not get their babies or toddlers vaccinated for COVID-19.