PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A major challenge in the quest toward herd immunity is getting younger people vaccinated. That was the idea behind a pop-up clinic Saturday in Fairmount Park's Dell Music Center, called the Philly Vax Jawn.
Turnout from young people wasn't as strong as organizers hoped, but it's not deterring their efforts.
The Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium was among the organizers. Founder Dr. Ala Stanford said the focus of the event was to get young adults to roll up their sleeves.
"We pushed hard with the elderly, remember. We pushed really, really hard," she pointed out.
"And we got a lot of younger caregivers that were taking the elderly in but then once you had all of those folks, then it was like, what about the rest of them? We got a lot of work to still do there, but this just the beginning."
19 year old Kwadir Twyne said most of his friends don't understand the importance but he knows better. "I don't want to get sick," he said. "I tell people that this COVID stuff is no joke and we have to get vaccinated."
Mayor Jim Kenney also attended the event, and said they reached the people they set out to reach.
"We are outdoors, it's in the neighborhood. People of color. It's the age group, cohort we're not getting. So this is a brilliant idea. The weather cooperated, beautiful day," he said.
Kenney also praised the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium for its efforts. "We wouldn't have been able to do half of what we did without them, and we are very happy that they are willing to put in their personal time," he said.
Organizers said efforts are beefing up to get young adults educated and interested in getting vaccinated.
