Most eligible children still not vaccinated for COVID-19. Groups in Sacramento are working to change that – KCRA Sacramento

Community coalitions in Sacramento on Wednesday kicked off a targeted effort to get children ages 5 to 11 vaccinated for COVID-19. "There is more intentional focus on making sure we are reaching our hardest hit, hardest-to-reach families and youth," explained Mai Vang, Sacramento city councilwoman representing District 8. Sacramento County, Kaiser Permanente and La Familia Counseling Center joined forces this week to increase access to the COVID-19 vaccine in communities with lower-than-average vaccination rates, particularly for children 5 to 11 years old and within communities of color. In Sacramento County, more than 68% of children ages 5 to 11 are still not vaccinated. La Familia hosted a vaccination clinic at its Maple Neighborhood Center on Wednesday encouraging shots for kids. "We know that the LatinX community has one of the lowest vaccination rates here," said Rachel Rios, executive director of La Familia Counseling Center. "We have pockets of communities, mostly our underserved communities and folks who dont speak English, that we still have yet to reach."Rios added that many in the community were also essential workers who could not easily take time off to get their children vaccinated. "We know COVID-19 doesn't discriminate, but our current system does," Vang said. " who has access to health care, who has access to vaccines."Medical experts continue to emphasize the importance of vaccinations to beat COVID-19."There's this underappreciation of just how serious COVID can be in children," said Dr. Dean Blumberg, head of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis. "I see children young children hospitalized for COVID. Just because it's milder doesn't mean it can't be more serious."Blumberg added there have been more than 1,000 known deaths in the United States among children and almost 50 pediatric deaths in California.Vaccines opened up for kids 5 to 11 two months ago, but vaccination rates remain low. New data from Kaiser shows just 28% of eligible children nationwide have gotten their first dose. About 19% are fully vaccinated. In California, about 24% of eligible kids are fully vaccinated."We encourage parents to reach out to trusted sources a pediatrician or someone else who believes in mainstream science," Blumberg said."We know the way out is by vaccinating our families so we can spend time together again and lead healthy lives," said Rios. La Familia will host additional vaccination clinics on Feb. 8 and 23. More information can be found on their website.

Community coalitions in Sacramento on Wednesday kicked off a targeted effort to get children ages 5 to 11 vaccinated for COVID-19.

"There is more intentional focus on making sure we are reaching our hardest hit, hardest-to-reach families and youth," explained Mai Vang, Sacramento city councilwoman representing District 8.

Sacramento County, Kaiser Permanente and La Familia Counseling Center joined forces this week to increase access to the COVID-19 vaccine in communities with lower-than-average vaccination rates, particularly for children 5 to 11 years old and within communities of color.

In Sacramento County, more than 68% of children ages 5 to 11 are still not vaccinated. La Familia hosted a vaccination clinic at its Maple Neighborhood Center on Wednesday encouraging shots for kids.

"We know that the LatinX community has one of the lowest vaccination rates here," said Rachel Rios, executive director of La Familia Counseling Center. "We have pockets of communities, mostly our underserved communities and folks who dont speak English, that we still have yet to reach."

Rios added that many in the community were also essential workers who could not easily take time off to get their children vaccinated.

"We know COVID-19 doesn't discriminate, but our current system does," Vang said. "[It affects] who has access to health care, who has access to vaccines."

Medical experts continue to emphasize the importance of vaccinations to beat COVID-19.

"There's this underappreciation of just how serious COVID can be in children," said Dr. Dean Blumberg, head of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis. "I see children young children hospitalized for COVID. Just because it's milder doesn't mean it can't be more serious."

Blumberg added there have been more than 1,000 known deaths in the United States among children and almost 50 pediatric deaths in California.

Vaccines opened up for kids 5 to 11 two months ago, but vaccination rates remain low. New data from Kaiser shows just 28% of eligible children nationwide have gotten their first dose. About 19% are fully vaccinated. In California, about 24% of eligible kids are fully vaccinated.

"We encourage parents to reach out to trusted sources a pediatrician or someone else who believes in mainstream science," Blumberg said.

"We know the way out is by vaccinating our families so we can spend time together again and lead healthy lives," said Rios.

La Familia will host additional vaccination clinics on Feb. 8 and 23. More information can be found on their website.

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Most eligible children still not vaccinated for COVID-19. Groups in Sacramento are working to change that - KCRA Sacramento