The State Health Department Records Low Vaccine Rates In Oklahoma Kids

The State Health Department says fewer than 7% of kids between the ages of 5 and 11 are fully vaccinated in Oklahoma.

That's lower than the national average of about 15%. The national average is around 53%.

The vaccine rate for teens in Oklahoma is also lower than the national average, with about 41% of kids 12 to 17 being fully vaccinated.

For the first time ever this week the US recorded more than one million new Covid-19 cases in a single day.

In Oklahoma, the number of new cases is more than four thousand.

Oklahoma health experts say the concern right now is the infection rate will continue to grow as people return from the holiday break.

The State Health Department says Omicron has become the dominant strain here in Oklahoma.

Experts say data from the Public Health lab shows Omicron makes up 57% of cases from over the holidays.

The remaining cases were the Delta variant.

Doctors say they are seeing a higher percentage of unvaccinated children get hospitalized with the Omicron variant.

"One thing that we have learned from the UK and South Africa is that these variants are mutating to find groups that are able to get it," says OU College of Public Health professor Aaron Wendelboe. "Our children are able to get it."

On Tuesday, Saint Francis reported nine kids in their hospital with COVID-19.

Right now, children 5 and older can get the vaccine. Those 12 and older are authorized to get a booster.