Here's some COVID-19 news for today, May 17.
Pfizer’s COVID Booster Shot , for 5 to 11 Year Olds, Authorized by FDA. NBC News reports on May 17, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)... … announced it had authorized Pfizer-BioNTech's coronavirus booster dose for 5 to 11 year olds. The FDA says eligible recipients of a booster dose could receive the extra shot starting five months after their initial two-dose series. Per NBC News, Pfizer's booster shot for 5 to 11 year olds is 10 micrograms ... . ... a third of the dosage given to citizens 12 and older. Following the FDA's ruling, it is now up to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to recommend how to implement boosters for the age group. CDC data shows less than one third of 5 to 11 year olds in the United States have recieved the primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine. Experts say booster shots offer better protection against the omicron strain and its associated subvariants. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will reportedly discuss booster shots on May 19. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the Director of the CDC, should have her final recommendation following the committee's discussion
FDA clears COVID booster shot for healthy kids ages 5 to 11
U.S. regulators on Tuesday authorized a COVID-19 booster shot for healthy 5- to 11-year-olds, hoping an extra vaccine dose will enhance their protection as infections once again creep upward.
Everyone 12 and older already was supposed to get one booster dose for the best protection against the newest coronavirus variants -- and some people, including those 50 and older, can choose a second booster.
The Food and Drug Administration’s authorization now opens a third shot of Pfizer's vaccine to elementary-age kids, too — at least five months after their last dose. Get more info here:
California's $6 gas could spread nationwide
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The average price for gasoline in California hit $6 a gallon Tuesday for the first time -- and analysts at JPMorgan are warning that price could be the national average before the end of the summer.
The startling forecast comes as US gas prices have surged to record highs in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, casting a shadow over the economy.
"There is a real risk the price could reach $6+ a gallon by August," Natasha Kaneva, head of global oil and commodities research at JPMorgan, told CNN in an email on Tuesday. Read more here:
Get caught up with our daily podcast recapping top news, including: Tuesday's primaries, fate of Ukrainian troops uncertain and Orlando wins NBA draft lottery.
Covid-19 remains a public health emergency in US, administration says
The Biden administration is continuing the Covid-19 public health emergency declaration beyond July 15, two administration officials told CNN, as coronavirus cases are rising again across the US.
The administration has repeatedly said it would give states 60 days' notice if it were ending the declaration, which would have been Monday. But the deadline passed without notification.
The declaration is now expected to be renewed for up to another 90 days. Read more on what that means here:
New US hospitals face fiscal crisis over COVID relief money
A whole town celebrated in 2020 when, early in the coronavirus pandemic, Thomasville Regional Medical Center opened, offering state-of-the-art medicine that was previously unavailable in a poor, isolated part of Alabama. The timing for the ribbon-cutting seemed perfect: New treatment options would be available in an underserved area just as a global health crisis was unfolding.
In the end, that same timing may be the reason for the hospital’s undoing. Get more of the story here:
***
Get more up-to-date COVID news here:
How child vaccination rates for COVID-19 compare across every state
How child vaccination rates for COVID-19 compare across every state
As of the last week of April 2022, just over 1,100 children in the United States have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For comparison, nearly 1 million adults have died in the same time frame. Lower death and hospitalization rates among people 18 and younger may indicate that children experience COVID-19 less severely.
Despite a generally milder illness, schools have been upended during the pandemic, and children have suffered socially, emotionally, and academically from two years of shutdowns and social distancing measures. To combat more systemic disruptions and protect communities on a larger scale, the Food and Drug Administration fully authorized the Pfizer vaccine for people 16 and over and granted emergency authorization for children between 5 and 16. Neither the Moderna nor Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized—even on an emergency basis—for those under 18.
Citing data compiled by the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services, HeyTutor looked at vaccination rates among children in every state in the U.S. and Washington D.C. Booster shots are not yet recommended for children under 12. States are ranked by vaccination rates among children ages 5-11 as of Apr. 29, 2022.
There are 73 million children under the age of 18 in the U.S., representing almost one-quarter of the total population. Nationally, about 30% of children between the ages of 5 and 11, and 60% of children between 12 and 17 are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Still, concerns about the vaccine persist, with parents questioning its efficacy as well as both its short- and long-term side effects. And while many parents share the same concerns, the strength of those misgivings varies by demographic, geographic, and political lines, according to a recurring survey conducted by the COVID States Project. The project consisted of a multi-university group of researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Rutgers, and Northwestern Universities. The survey polled nearly 23,000 individuals from the end of December 2021 to late January 2022.
College-educated parents are more likely to vaccinate their children than parents without a college degree, for example. And when looking at parental income as an indicator of vaccination likelihood, 81% of the highest earners—people making at least $150,000 annually—reported they are likely to vaccinate their children compared to 46% of parents earning $25,000 or less.
Parents in the Northeastern and Western U.S. are more likely to vaccinate their teenagers than parents in Midwestern and Southern states. Vaccine likelihood varies significantly between urban and rural breakdowns as well, with parents of teenagers in rural areas reporting they are less likely—by nearly 20 percentage points—to vaccinate their children.
Vaccine hesitancy is higher—and growing—among parents of children between 5 and 11. When looking at the parental political affiliation of this age bracket, 42% of Republican parents surveyed in January 2022 say they are likely to vaccinate their kids compared to 55% of Independents and 76% of Democrats. Among all three groups, the proportion of parents expressing the likelihood of vaccinating their children declined since September 2021.
Politics is playing an increasingly large and sometimes disproportionate role in communication about the COVID-19 vaccine for children. An Associated Press investigation found the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense—run by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—more than doubled its revenue in the first year of the pandemic to $6.8 million. AP reported the group targets and spreads misinformation to people already more likely to not trust the vaccine, including mothers and Black Americans.
Since the fall of 2021, Asian and Hispanic parents are consistently more likely to vaccinate their children, while white and Black parents report a lower likelihood.
As the end of this school year approaches and administrators plan for the fall, COVID-19 vaccine mandates for students will be an ongoing conversation. Currently, four states—California, Illinois, Louisiana, and New York—as well as Washington D.C. have implemented some type of mandate that will be implemented in the fall. Nineteen states have banned them.
Read on to learn more about child vaccination rates in your state.
#51. Alabama
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 10.1% (42,674)
--- Ages 12-17: 34.9% (129,878)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 15.3% (64,522)
--- Ages 12-17: 44.3% (164,918)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 12.0% (15,522)
#50. Louisiana
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 11.9% (50,351)
--- Ages 12-17: 38.9% (140,840)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 16.8% (71,208)
--- Ages 12-17: 47.3% (171,381)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 12.7% (17,892)
#49. Mississippi
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 12.2% (33,091)
--- Ages 12-17: 38.1% (92,936)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 15.4% (41,883)
--- Ages 12-17: 45.8% (111,606)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 11.2% (10,416)
#48. Wyoming
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 14.3% (7,614)
--- Ages 12-17: 36.5% (16,672)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 17.4% (9,241)
--- Ages 12-17: 41.8% (19,081)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 18.6% (3,098)
#47. West Virginia
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 15.1% (21,354)
--- Ages 12-17: 43.2% (54,056)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 19.4% (27,439)
--- Ages 12-17: 49.1% (61,458)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 18.7% (10,090)
#46. Tennessee
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 15.4% (89,993)
--- Ages 12-17: 38.5% (198,984)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 18.5% (108,417)
--- Ages 12-17: 45.3% (233,911)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 17.3% (34,365)
#45. Oklahoma
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 15.8% (59,602)
--- Ages 12-17: 45.0% (144,253)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 20.0% (75,201)
--- Ages 12-17: 54.5% (174,688)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 14.0% (20,139)
#44. Georgia
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 15.9% (154,716)
--- Ages 12-17: 42.7% (373,646)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 21.7% (210,698)
--- Ages 12-17: 53.2% (465,238)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 15.8% (59,081)
#43. Arkansas
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 16.7% (45,549)
--- Ages 12-17: 45.5% (109,103)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 23.2% (63,256)
--- Ages 12-17: 56.0% (134,204)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 15.4% (16,776)
#42. Indiana
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 16.7% (101,756)
--- Ages 12-17: 41.1% (222,228)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 23.8% (144,806)
--- Ages 12-17: 47.9% (259,015)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 23.8% (52,933)
#41. Idaho
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 17.2% (30,164)
--- Ages 12-17: 39.8% (62,365)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 19.9% (34,854)
--- Ages 12-17: 44.7% (69,903)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: .4% (221)
#40. South Carolina
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 17.3% (75,659)
--- Ages 12-17: 44.0% (168,119)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 22.1% (96,213)
--- Ages 12-17: 52.0% (198,705)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 15.4% (25,810)
#39. Nevada
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 18.8% (51,386)
--- Ages 12-17: 51.0% (119,389)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 24.2% (65,944)
--- Ages 12-17: 65.4% (153,291)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 16.4% (19,602)
#38. Kentucky
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 18.9% (73,585)
--- Ages 12-17: 44.2% (150,957)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 23.2% (90,400)
--- Ages 12-17: 51.1% (174,345)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 19.6% (29,578)
#37. Florida
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 19.6% (321,266)
--- Ages 12-17: 55.2% (799,283)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 24.9% (408,550)
--- Ages 12-17: 66.4% (962,021)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 15.4% (122,965)
#36. Missouri
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 19.7% (105,286)
--- Ages 12-17: 44.1% (206,559)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 25.4% (135,643)
--- Ages 12-17: 51.9% (243,150)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 20.0% (41,410)
#35. North Dakota
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 20.0% (14,115)
--- Ages 12-17: 40.7% (22,520)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 24.8% (17,516)
--- Ages 12-17: 48.1% (26,634)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 8.0% (1,799)
#34. Montana
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 20.4% (18,382)
--- Ages 12-17: 44.0% (34,085)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 25.9% (23,280)
--- Ages 12-17: 51.4% (39,815)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 19.8% (6,746)
#33. Ohio
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 22.8% (227,812)
--- Ages 12-17: 44.5% (395,911)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 26.1% (259,948)
--- Ages 12-17: 49.2% (437,981)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 26.4% (104,466)
#32. Kansas
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 23.6% (65,163)
--- Ages 12-17: 52.2% (124,561)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 30.1% (83,125)
--- Ages 12-17: 61.8% (147,492)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 21.7% (27,076)
#31. North Carolina
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 23.9% (213,776)
--- Ages 12-17: 50.1% (399,943)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 31.7% (283,057)
--- Ages 12-17: 65.8% (525,436)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 14.1% (56,457)
#30. Texas
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 24.0% (696,645)
--- Ages 12-17: 57.9% (1,449,864)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 35.6% (1,034,263)
--- Ages 12-17: 73.5% (1,840,265)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 16.6% (241,160)
#29. South Dakota
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 24.5% (20,940)
--- Ages 12-17: 49.0% (34,601)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 30.6% (26,121)
--- Ages 12-17: 63.1% (44,514)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 18.4% (6,356)
#28. Iowa
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 24.5% (69,450)
--- Ages 12-17: 49.1% (121,913)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 27.7% (78,353)
--- Ages 12-17: 54.5% (135,129)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 23.9% (29,122)
#27. Alaska
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 25.2% (18,058)
--- Ages 12-17: 57.2% (32,759)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 30.9% (22,101)
--- Ages 12-17: 63.2% (36,240)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 24.8% (8,128)
#26. Arizona
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 25.4% (162,968)
--- Ages 12-17: 56.7% (321,571)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 34.8% (223,417)
--- Ages 12-17: 69.9% (396,841)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 22.0% (70,886)
#25. Michigan
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 25.6% (211,638)
--- Ages 12-17: 47.3% (355,379)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 29.0% (239,567)
--- Ages 12-17: 52.2% (392,342)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 28.3% (100,424)
#24. Nebraska
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 27.5% (51,236)
--- Ages 12-17: 54.7% (87,087)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 31.8% (59,186)
--- Ages 12-17: 60.6% (96,333)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 26.1% (22,695)
#23. Utah
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 28.2% (103,330)
--- Ages 12-17: 60.1% (190,718)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 35.0% (128,067)
--- Ages 12-17: 68.0% (215,803)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 21.5% (40,954)
#22. Delaware
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 28.3% (22,446)
--- Ages 12-17: 61.5% (42,798)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 35.7% (28,308)
--- Ages 12-17: 72.1% (50,182)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 25.8% (11,047)
#21. Wisconsin
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 29.9% (147,329)
--- Ages 12-17: 54.3% (240,957)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 33.5% (164,732)
--- Ages 12-17: 59.9% (266,013)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 29.1% (70,067)
#20. New Hampshire
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 30.6% (29,842)
--- Ages 12-17: 59.4% (55,922)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 41.0% (39,967)
--- Ages 12-17: 74.2% (69,839)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 29.2% (16,306)
#19. Pennsylvania
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 30.7% (314,215)
--- Ages 12-17: 56.9% (519,941)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 37.5% (383,807)
--- Ages 12-17: 69.5% (634,971)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 23.8% (123,822)
#18. Oregon
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 32.3% (110,533)
--- Ages 12-17: 63.4% (187,985)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 39.9% (136,527)
--- Ages 12-17: 70.4% (208,855)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 33.8% (63,631)
#17. New Mexico
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 32.8% (61,865)
--- Ages 12-17: 68.3% (113,759)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 43.5% (81,903)
--- Ages 12-17: 82.5% (137,335)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 28.9% (32,901)
#16. Colorado
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 34.0% (166,959)
--- Ages 12-17: 64.7% (282,848)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 41.0% (200,956)
--- Ages 12-17: 72.4% (316,392)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 30.1% (85,011)
#15. California
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 35.5% (1,237,246)
--- Ages 12-17: 72.9% (2,208,793)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 42.7% (1,485,883)
--- Ages 12-17: 83.5% (2,528,442)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 28.7% (634,239)
#14. Washington
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 35.7% (234,418)
--- Ages 12-17: 68.4% (375,409)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 40.9% (268,697)
--- Ages 12-17: 75.0% (411,609)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 32.8% (123,133)
#13. New Jersey
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 36.4% (272,997)
--- Ages 12-17: 72.1% (486,303)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 43.4% (325,000)
--- Ages 12-17: 82.9% (559,265)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 27.1% (132,014)
#12. New York
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 37.0% (575,460)
--- Ages 12-17: 72.8% (981,505)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 43.2% (671,052)
--- Ages 12-17: 82.7% (1,115,278)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 24.9% (244,138)
#11. District of Columbia
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 37.3% (18,860)
--- Ages 12-17: 77.6% (24,977)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 55.0% (27,868)
--- Ages 12-17: 95.0% (33,550)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 25.8% (6,446)
#10. Illinois
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 38.0% (412,841)
--- Ages 12-17: 64.5% (634,300)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 42.9% (465,825)
--- Ages 12-17: 70.8% (696,398)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 28.6% (181,354)
#9. Minnesota
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 38.6% (196,828)
--- Ages 12-17: 62.4% (275,581)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 43.5% (221,850)
--- Ages 12-17: 66.1% (291,947)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 33.4% (92,078)
#8. Virginia
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 39.9% (288,501)
--- Ages 12-17: 73.2% (462,937)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 47.0% (339,872)
--- Ages 12-17: 82.8% (523,256)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 28.4% (131,414)
#7. Maryland
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 41.9% (218,475)
--- Ages 12-17: 77.2% (349,060)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 48.5% (252,380)
--- Ages 12-17: 87.2% (394,183)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 31.3% (109,425)
#6. Hawaii
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 42.0% (50,268)
--- Ages 12-17: 84.0% (79,848)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 47.8% (57,201)
--- Ages 12-17: 92.6% (88,095)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 30.1% (24,006)
#5. Connecticut
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 42.5% (117,968)
--- Ages 12-17: 77.0% (206,433)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 50.6% (140,492)
--- Ages 12-17: 91.1% (244,118)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 29.6% (61,090)
#4. Maine
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 43.0% (41,209)
--- Ages 12-17: 69.2% (62,017)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 47.9% (45,878)
--- Ages 12-17: 76.1% (68,128)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 34.7% (21,547)
#3. Massachusetts
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 49.5% (256,777)
--- Ages 12-17: 78.7% (375,470)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 60.1% (311,463)
--- Ages 12-17: 95.0% (454,181)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 33.4% (125,513)
#2. Rhode Island
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 50.7% (39,248)
--- Ages 12-17: 81.6% (59,245)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 59.4% (45,921)
--- Ages 12-17: 93.7% (68,033)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 30.9% (18,312)
#1. Vermont
- Children fully vaccinated:
--- Ages 5-11: 58.8% (25,853)
--- Ages 12-17: 81.3% (33,288)
- With at least one dose:
--- Ages 5-11: 66.0% (29,017)
--- Ages 12-17: 91.1% (37,306)
- With booster dose:
--- Ages 12-17: 48.4% (16,105)
This story originally appeared on HeyTutor and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
