COVID-19 Immunization

As of November 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for all children ages 5–17 to protect against severe illness.2 Data on vaccination coverage can be used to identify groups of children who may be more likely to be unvaccinated and at a greater risk for severe COVID-19 illness.3

Figure 1: Percentage of children ages 5–17 vaccinated with at least one dose for COVID-19 by poverty status and race and Hispanic origin, February 2022
Percentage of children ages 5–17 vaccinated with at least one dose for COVID-19 by poverty status and race and Hispanic origin, February 2022

‡ Reporting standards not met.

NOTE: As of June 19, 2022, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all children ages 6 months–17 years. The data for the indicator in this report was collected during the time when COVID-19 vaccination was recommended for children ages 5–17 years. The recommendations are available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/index.html. Poverty status is based on family income and household size using 2020 U.S. Census Bureau poverty thresholds. The revised 1997 U.S. Office of Management and Budget standards on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into one of the following five racial groups: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as "Two or more races." Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately but combined for reporting. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. Included as "Other, non-Hispanic" but not shown separately are American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and "Two or more races," due to the small sample size.

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, National Immunization Survey–Child COVID Module.

  • In February 2022, approximately 45% of children ages 5–17 had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Overall, children in families with incomes below the poverty threshold had lower one-dose COVID-19 vaccination coverage (34%) than did children in families with incomes at or above the poverty level (47%).
  • Among White, non-Hispanic children, those in families with incomes above the poverty threshold had higher one-dose COVID-19 vaccination coverage (45%) than did those in families with incomes below the poverty threshold (21%).
  • Among children in families with incomes below the poverty threshold, one-dose COVID-19 vaccination coverage was greater for Hispanic children (45%) than for White, non-Hispanic children (21%). There were no statistically significant differences in coverage between Hispanic or White, non-Hispanic children and Black, non-Hispanic children.
  • Among children in families with incomes above the poverty threshold, children of an Other, non-Hispanic race or ethnicity had greater one-dose COVID-19 vaccination coverage (61%) than did Hispanic children (49%), White, non-Hispanic children (45%), and Black, non-Hispanic children (41%).

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2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, January 11). COVID-19 vaccines for children and teens. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/children-teens.html

3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, November 2). COVID-19 vaccine equity for racial and ethnic minority groups. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/health-equity/vaccine-equity.html

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