LEESBURG, Fla. — Some Central Florida doctors are concerned about Florida’s low rate of COVID-19 vaccination among children.

What You Need To Know

  • As of Nov. 18, 6% of 5- to 11-year-olds in Florida had been vaccinated against COVID-19

  • That vaccination rate is too low, a pediatrician says

  • Children that age can infect older and younger people, doctors say

  • Vaccinations ensure more normal holidays for one Central Florida family

As of Nov. 18, 96,000, or 6%, of 5- to 11-year-olds in Florida were vaccinated, Florida Department of Health data indicate. Florida’s population includes 1.6 million children in that age group, the most recently eligible for the vaccine.

“It’s concerning because we don’t want to repeat what we had seen in June and July,” pediatrician Dr. Mohammad Afzal said.

Afzal said when in person learning restarted in August, his pediatrician offices saw an increase in patients becoming infected with COVID-19.

The vaccination rate is far too low, he said.

“Kids can spread COVID, and they can spread COVID to older people, as well as to younger ones who are under 5,” Afzal said.

The most vaccinated age group in Florida remains those 65 years old and up, the first group eligible for vaccines when they became available.


COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report
Week of: Nov. 12 – Nov. 18, 2021
Source: Florida Department of Health

Age Group           Age Group Population         Percent Vaccinated
Total (5+):            20.8 million                              68% (13.6 million)
Age 5-11                 1.6 million                               6% (96,000) 
Age 12-19               1.9 million                               56% (1.0 million) 
Age 20-29             2.7 million                               57% (1.5 million)
Age 30-39             2.7 million                               66% (1.7 million) 
Age 40-49             2.6 million                               74% (1.9 million)
Age 50-59             2.9 million                               79% (2.2 million) 
Age 60-64             1.4 million                               86% (1.2 million)
Age 65+                4.5 million                               88% (3.8 million) 



Jessica Popov has one son who is eligible for the vaccine and one who is still too young.

Popov said she got her older son vaccinated early to protect his health, and to help give the family some normalcy.

She said it’s important for her as the holidays approach.

“This year, we’re actually going to get to celebrate,” Popov said. “We had a COVID exposure in our extended family this last year, so we had to cancel everything. Then we had COVID positive from that exposure so we ended up having to cancel all of our plans last year.”