(reverent news music) - I'm Jay Martin, Jr., in the Crosscut KCTS 9 newsroom.

(gentle music) COVID vaccines for young kids are scarce in much of the Northwest, according to a report from Northwest Public Broadcasting.

A month after the FDA approved vaccines for children six months and older, families in Washington, Idaho, and Montana face long waits.

Some parents hope to have their children fully vaccinated by the time preschool or kindergarten classes begin.

That may not happen because of scheduling delays.

Some of the limited access may be due in part to less demand for the vaccine than anticipated, according to Chris Skidmore, director of Whitman County Public Health.

A Pullman parent found that many pharmacies weren't offering the vaccine for children under five, while others required patients to have established care.

One clinic she talked to had a waiting list, but wouldn't schedule until they had at least 10 children on it, which would guarantee a full 10-dose shipment could be used.

I'm Jay Martin, Jr. Find nonprofit Northwest news every day on crosscut.com.

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