Teenagers are getting vaccinated in California at a lower rate than adults.
Just 32% of 16 and 17-year-olds have gotten at least one shot of the Pfizer vaccine, the only vaccine currently approved for children. By contrast, over 60% of the overall population has received at least one shot.
While much of that discrepancy is likely because teenagers did not have access until several months into the vaccine rollout, county officials are now trying to close the gap with different approaches from mobile vaccination vans to swag bags and dance parties.
Santa Clara County officials are teaming up with the 49ers to host student vaccination nights at Levi’s Stadium for teenagers aged 16 to 19. Between Tuesday-Thursday this week from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the 49ers will host a dance party with their mascot Sourdough Sam and a DJ to entertain people waiting in line.
Teens will also get tours of the 49ers locker room and team swag and the first 100 people in line will get $10 gift cards to Starbucks and Chipotle. Shots will also be available to family members.
Meanwhile, Marin County is hoping to inoculate 6,000 teenagers a week once vaccines are approved for 12 to 15-year-olds by sending mobile vaccination clinics to schools.
While young people are less susceptible to severe illness from COVID-19, Marin's Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis tells KCBS Radio the data show that teens are just as likely to become infected.
“And we’re seeing more and more an increasing proportion of people who are being hospitalized – especially back East – are children.”
That could be because older people have been vaccinated at a higher rate, but Dr. Willis also says it is possible for variants to have more of an impact on younger people, which is why it is important for everyone to be protected from the virus.
