More than half of parents want to know how many students and teachers at their schools aren’t vaccinated – but only a fifth say status would affect whether they send kids in, poll finds
- A new poll surveyed more than 1,600 parents of children between ages seven and 18 in June 2021
- Results showed at least 62% of parents of middle- and high-school students – said their child would feel safer if most students and teachers were vaccinated
- The poll found 61% of parents said they would want to know how many teachers are not vaccinated and 59% would want to know how many students
- Only 19% said knowing these figures would affect their decisions about having their child attend in-person school
The majority of parents want to know many students and teachers aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19, a new survey finds.
Researchers from C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health found that six in 10 mothers and fathers want to be told the exact number of pupils and staff that have not received shots yet.
However, only a fifth said it would be a factor in deciding whether or not put their children in in-person classes.
It comes as an increasing number of kids in the U.S. test positive for the virus – but less than 0.01 percent die from their infection.
A new poll found 61% of parents said they would want to know how many teachers are not vaccinated and 59% would want to know how many students (file image)
Only 19% said knowing these figures would affect their decisions about having their child attend in-person school. Pictured: Children wait to enter the school building on the first day of in-person classes at Baldwin Park Elementary School in Orlando, Florida, August 2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic first struck in March 2020, schools quickly closed and pivoted to remote learning.
However, when the new semester came around in Fall 2020, most districts did hybrid in-person classes and virtual learning.
This year, most schools will be doing solely in-person learning at the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
‘Covid wreaked havoc on many families’ school experience last year, with parents and kids navigating unpredictable changes in the learning environment and new social, emotional and academic challenges,’ Mott Poll co-director Dr Sarah Clark said in a news release.
‘Our report suggests that those experiences left a mark on students and families, influencing their views and concerns about the upcoming school year.’
For the survey, which was conducted by Ipsos for C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, more than 1,600 parents of children between ages seven and 18 were surveyed in June 2021.
The adults resemble the sex, age and racial makeup of the U.S. population.
Results showed that 62 percent of parents of middle- and high-school students – who are eligible get the shot – said their child would feel safer if most students and teachers were vaccinated against COVID-19.
Cases have been rising among children with more than 121,000 kids testing positive for the virus two weeks ago, according to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
That is a 29 percent increase over the figure of nearly 94,000 from the previous week, signaling a worrying trend as the fall semester approaches.
The poll found 61 percent of parents said they would want to know how many teachers are not vaccinated and 59 percent would want to know how many students.
However, only 19 percent of mothers and fathers said knowing these figures would affect their decisions about having their child attend in-person school.
‘Many families would feel safer knowing their school has a high vaccination rate,’ Clark said.
‘But some may feel that the potential negative impacts of not attending in-person school outweigh risks from unvaccinated individuals. Parents may also believe that they can minimize that risk by having their child get a Covid vaccine.’
She recommended that parents and students ask school administrators what is being done to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in classrooms.
‘Parents will want to learn about school policies related to masks and social distancing, and then talk with their child about how to navigate the school environment to feel as safe as possible,’ Clark added.
