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Only 22.5 percent of children ages 12-17 have been vaccinated

POLK COUNTY—Polk County is in the lower half of the state of children who have been vaccinated. 

According to NC COVID-19, 22.5 percent of Polk County’s children have been vaccinated between the ages of 12-17. All children 12 and older are eligible. 

There have been 26.24 percent of Polk County children partially vaccinated, or 344 children, according to NC COVID-19. There have been 295 children in Polk County fully vaccinated, which makes up the 22.5 percent. 

Polk County’s population of children age 12-17 is 1,311, according to NC COVID-19. 

The data was updated through Oct. 6. 

Statewide, 309,633 children, or 38.94 percent have been vaccinated. There is an estimated 795,122 North Carolinians aged 12-17. 

Statewide, 343,993, or 43.26 percent have been partially vaccinated. 

Polk County’s 22.5-percent ranks the county in the lower half of counties in the state for children being vaccinated. 

As of Oct. 6, there were 11 counties in the state that had child vaccination rates of greater than 40 percent and 20 counties that had child vaccination rates between 30 and 40 percent. 

Henderson County had a child vaccination rate of 35.4 percent as of this week; Transylvania County had a child vaccination rate of 33.03 percent and Buncombe County had a child vaccination rate of 47.23 percent. 

Rutherford County is the only surrounding county with a lower child vaccination rate as Polk at 18.21 percent, according to NC COVID-19. 

More information about statewide Covid cases and vaccinations can be found at nc-covid.org.