Virginians 12 years old and over are now eligible to receive a Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. This has a huge impact on students. It’s difficult to navigate the school environment and daily life with the possibility of risking the health and safety of those around you, so many teens are opting to get vaccinated for the comfort and safety of themselves and others. 

“I chose to get vaccinated because I felt it was safer for myself and the people around me,” said sophomore Mona Hosseini. “I think everyone has a responsibility to do their part in this pandemic, and to do whatever they can to improve our current situation.”

For the most part, people are choosing to get vaccinated for health reasons, as a moral obligation, or as a combination of the two. 

“I think it’s the right thing to do,” said sophomore Howl Bates. “There are millions of people dying from Covid or just suffering from having it. I have coworkers who still can’t smell certain things after months of being Covid free. I’m around my grandparents a lot as well as work and not being vaccinated would just be too big a risk.”

The newness of the vaccine may seem a bit risky, but most students we talked to believed that it’s worth any potential side effects or risks, but not all. Those who have underlying health conditions, live with someone who does, or frequently see elderly people who are more at-risk have more concerns. 

“I wanted to be sure that I wouldn’t cause someone to get Covid and have bad symptoms or even die,” said sophomore Rhiana Quinn. “I also didn’t want to get Covid myself since I already have breathing issues and my mom has underlying health problems as well.” 

The vaccination process differs depending on where you go for your shot, but typically consists of the same few steps: checking in, waiting, getting your shot, and waiting again. The process is quick and easy.

“I got vaccinated in an empty department store, which was interesting,” said Quinn. “Both times it was a very simple process with clear directions. The people who actually administered the shots were also very nice and talked to me about school so I wouldn’t be focusing on the needle.”

Despite the fact that they were getting a shot, students surveyed saw their experience as relatively positive.

“I was nervous, but it was kind of simple really,” said Bates. “Show them your ID, give them your info, walk down the line, sit, [get your] shot, wait a while, and then I’m going back home. It was [a] positive [experience], and as many say, my arm was a little sore, but I went to work the next day and it wasn’t unbearable really. I haven’t felt sick at all.”

Although the vaccination process has been smooth for most, Hosseini experienced complications regarding her eligibility. 

“My experience getting vaccinated was a bit more confusing than I anticipated,” said Hosseini. “The first time I had an appointment I wasn’t able to get the vaccine because people who were 16 had just been allowed to get the vaccine. The second time went smoothly overall, although I did bleed through a shirt and it was kind of gross. However, I think it was a positive experience because now not only do I feel safer, but I feel as if I’ve done my part to make others safer.”

Students’ attitudes also helped their experience feel more positive.

“I was a little nervous to get vaccinated because shots are never fun,” said sophomore Emily Euler. “But overall it was a good experience. Everything ran pretty smoothly and I knew that it was worth it to help prevent anyone I know from potentially getting sick.”

Whether you choose to get vaccinated or not, consider the benefits it may have for yourself and others. This pandemic has been hard on everyone, and for some, the widespread availability of vaccinations provides hope. 

“I choose to get vaccinated because I want to stop the spread of the virus,” said Euler. “This pandemic has been a lot on everyone so having an opportunity to help everything get back to normal feels really good.”

Currently, all Virginia residents 12 and older are eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. You can find out where to get vaccinated by visiting https://vaccinate.virginia.gov/ and using their vaccination location finder tool, which finds vaccination centers near you when you enter your address. Some locations require making an appointment, while others take walk-ins. In fact, Salem is now a vaccination center! VBCPS is working with the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health to provide vaccinations during the school day to eligible students. The first dose goes in arms today! Further information about this opportunity has been distributed to parents via email.