Experts Claim Teenagers Of Any Eligible Age Range In The United States Remain Least Immunized Against COVID19

The COVID19 shot that has been developed by Pfizer and BioNTech is accessible for people who are in the age group of 12 years and above. Still, teenagers of any eligible age group are least vaccinated in the United States. An analysis of data obtained from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shown that only 46 percent of people who are in the age range of 12 to 17 years have been vaccinated with two doses of COVID19 shot as compared to 83 percent of adults who are above 65 years of age. A non-profit organization called Neighbor2Neighbor has recently held their Vax to School event in Randolph County, Georgia. However, the rate of vaccination in Randolph County has been considerably low. As per last week’s data, only 10 percent of teenagers in the age range of 12 to 14 years have received only one dose of COVID19 shot in Randolph County. Data from the Georgia Department of Public Health have shown that nearly 20 percent of people in the age range of 12 to 19 years have taken only one dose of COVID19 vaccines. A pediatric infectious disease expert, Dr. Adam Ratner has said that a mistaken belief that has been circulating since the start of the pandemic might be a reason behind the low rate of vaccination among teenagers. Dr. Ratner is working at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. He has said that he feels that there is still a lingering sense that it is a pandemic of elder people; however, it is not the case anymore. Dr. Adam Ratner who is associated with the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases has said that with the rising number of cases among children and teenagers and the number of kids dealing with severe infection, COVID19 has become a real concern now but people are still in denial.

Many studies have shown that kids are at a far lower risk of being infected with severe COVID19 disease or die due to the disease, however, they can still contract the virus. Experts have said that September specifically has been a bad month for children. The data from the American Academy of Pediatrics have shown that a large number of kids have tested positive for COVID19 in the US this month as compared to any other month of the pandemic. Experts from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have said that now children as well are at risk of death due to COVID19. As per the CDC data, nearly 571 kids who have been under 17 years have lost their lives after being diagnosed with COVID19. The month of September has been quite hard for the US, particularly Randolph County. The rate of COVID19 has shot up twofold among teenagers who are in the age range of 14 to 17 years as compared to adults in the last month. The rate of infection among teens has been three times greater as compared to the case rate among elderly people who are above 65 years of age. Neighbor2Neighbor has been doing great work so far in Randolph County. The nonprofit organization has been going door-to-door to create awareness about vaccination and has been answering people’s queries regarding COVID19 shots. In the month of July, a huge number of adults have lined up at their vaccine clinic to get the vaccines; it has been a testament to the success of their campaign. Nearly 80 people have received vaccines at their vaccine clinic in Randolph County that has a population of 6900 people.

The nonprofit group has expected that the same number of teenagers will come to their teen clinics for vaccination. Nearly a dozen volunteers have turned a lunchroom of the Old J.B. Smith School into a vaccine clinic that can cater to nearly 40 teenagers at a time. As per the report, volunteers of the nonprofit organization have been practicing all COVID19 prevention measures such as social distancing, mask-wearing, and hygiene at the clinic. They have arranged refreshments for teenagers and made the clinic teenager-friendly. A volunteer of Neighbor2Neighbor, Sandra Willis has said that it is essential for everyone to take the shots to put an end to this devastating pandemic. Schools in Randolph County have been closed for many days in August. As per the report, a student from elementary school and four high school students have been diagnosed with COVID19 in the county. The officials from Randolph County have said that closing down schools has been a good decision for more than 800 students. The decision has allowed them some time to disinfect school buildings and buses. The officials have said that parents should keep a tab on their social and personal interactions.

They should be mingling with a small group of friends and family and continue to practice COVID19 appropriate measures. Schools have put daily temperature checks on the buses and regular screening in place since authorities have opened schools in the county. A school nurse, who has helped the nonprofit firm to install Vax to School Clinic, Angela Wilborn has said that cases appear to be in control as of now in the county. Wilborn has said that schools in Randolph County have made mask-wearing and face shields compulsory, which is a good practice. Experts have said that a recent graduate has tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the county and failed to survive the disease, since then, other students have become more vigilant about COVID19 appropriate behavior. The death of the recent graduate student has come as a reminder that COVID19 should be dealt with with caution. The medical chief of the COVID19 Vaccine Program of the Children’s National in Washington DC, Dr. Claire Boogaard has said that if parents and teenagers are well aware of the COVID19 threat, they will make vaccination a priority. However, teenagers do not weigh the risk in the same way as adults do. Usually, teenagers do not comprehend the long-term consequences of their decisions. Dr. Claire Boogaard has said that pediatricians have a duty to convince them to get the shots and help them get rid of vaccine hesitancy.