This week, Eugene’s Bethel School District is holding COVID-19 vaccination clinics for 12 to 15 year old students. KLCC’s Tiffany Eckert visited a clinic at Willamette High School to see how things were going.
Here in the cafeteria, parents stand in line with their young teens, to sign consent forms for immunization.
Valeria Carillo is here with her three sons ages 18, 14 and 13. I asked, “How does it feel to have your youngest get the shot today?”
This mom replied, “So very, very happy, yes!”
Son, Bradley Mora, is a 7th grader at Cascade Middle School. He is keeping up a cool demeanor.
“I’m not nervous, no,” said the youngster.
His brother Bruce is in 8th grade. “I feel relieved that I’m getting the shot because it feels more like—it’s reassurance so that I don’t get COVID,” he said.
When it’s their turn, they head over to where Eugene-Springfield Fire Captain Michael Hundt is giving shots.
“I been telling all the kids, ‘Ya wanna go hug your friends? Get the vaccine. If your friends aren’t getting it, harass them to get it,'" said Hundt. "And, I’m doing this cause it’s kind of my little part to help us get back to some kind of normalcy.”
Bethel School District has immunized over 500 students against COVID-19. There will be another clinic to provide boost Pfizer shots to all these youngsters in about three weeks.