Students Get Shots for Safety
In hopes of the pandemic ending soon, students are choosing to get vaccinated as availability expands.
By Abigail Shlimenzon
In hopes of the pandemic ending soon, students are choosing to get vaccinated as availability expands.
By Abigail Shlimenzon
On April 15, the COVID-19 vaccine became available to Californians ages 16 and older, making many high school students eligible to get the vaccine. Soon after, on May 13, vaccinations opened up for people ages 12 to 15, making it possible for all high school students to receive a vaccine.
Students had mixed reactions to receiving the vaccine but felt safer going out in public knowing they’re one step closer to ending the pandemic.
Kate Simpson, 12, overcame her phobia of needles and got the vaccine not only to feel personally safer but to also help protect her family.
“I want to be able to see people and not have to worry about my safety and theirs. I also have two immunocompromised people in my family and I don’t want to worry about them every time we leave the house,” Simpson said.
On the other hand, Sara Dora, 12, wasn’t scared to get the vaccination because many people she knew also had gotten it which helped alleviate any fear she had and support her loved ones.
“I wasn’t scared to get the vaccine because I knew many friends or family who had already received their second shots,” Dora said. “I wanted to get vaccinated because my mom is high risk and I wanted to make sure that she wouldn’t get sick.”
Other students, such as Sam Gorvad, 11, got the vaccine simply because of availability but are still taking precautionary measures.
“I got it because it was available,” Gorvad said. “I haven’t had my second dose yet so I’m still being cautious, and even when I do get it I’m going to be cautious.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on April 27 that people who are fully vaccinated don’t need to wear a mask, except at crowded events. However, because the vaccine hasn’t proved to be completely effective at stopping the spread of COVID-19, vaccinated students remain careful when going outside.
“I still wear my mask and sanitize but I no longer worry about getting my family sick,” Simpson said.
Despite the hardships and fear of the past year, students remain hopeful that life will return back to normal, and the increasing availability of vaccines is allowing for a slow return back to life before the first lockdown.
“I definitely feel safer now that I am vaccinated just because I feel like I did my part to help against COVID-19,” Dora said. “I feel like now since I am vaccinated, it definitely will make it easier to travel and go to events because I know many of those things have requirements to be vaccinated.”
Students had mixed reactions to receiving the vaccine but felt safer going out in public knowing they’re one step closer to ending the pandemic.
Kate Simpson, 12, overcame her phobia of needles and got the vaccine not only to feel personally safer but to also help protect her family.
“I want to be able to see people and not have to worry about my safety and theirs. I also have two immunocompromised people in my family and I don’t want to worry about them every time we leave the house,” Simpson said.
On the other hand, Sara Dora, 12, wasn’t scared to get the vaccination because many people she knew also had gotten it which helped alleviate any fear she had and support her loved ones.
“I wasn’t scared to get the vaccine because I knew many friends or family who had already received their second shots,” Dora said. “I wanted to get vaccinated because my mom is high risk and I wanted to make sure that she wouldn’t get sick.”
Other students, such as Sam Gorvad, 11, got the vaccine simply because of availability but are still taking precautionary measures.
“I got it because it was available,” Gorvad said. “I haven’t had my second dose yet so I’m still being cautious, and even when I do get it I’m going to be cautious.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on April 27 that people who are fully vaccinated don’t need to wear a mask, except at crowded events. However, because the vaccine hasn’t proved to be completely effective at stopping the spread of COVID-19, vaccinated students remain careful when going outside.
“I still wear my mask and sanitize but I no longer worry about getting my family sick,” Simpson said.
Despite the hardships and fear of the past year, students remain hopeful that life will return back to normal, and the increasing availability of vaccines is allowing for a slow return back to life before the first lockdown.
“I definitely feel safer now that I am vaccinated just because I feel like I did my part to help against COVID-19,” Dora said. “I feel like now since I am vaccinated, it definitely will make it easier to travel and go to events because I know many of those things have requirements to be vaccinated.”