New effort aims to educate Louisville youth about safety of COVID-19 vaccines
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Updated: 8:15 PM EDT Apr 21, 2021
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Updated: 8:15 PM EDT Apr 21, 2021
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GET YOUNG PEOPLE VACCINATED. REPORTER: WITH THE VACCINE NOW AVAILABLE TO YOUNG PEOPLE 16 AND OLDER, MEDICAL OFFICIALS ARE BATTLING VACCINE HESITANCY AND MISINFORMATION WITHIN THAT GROUP. HERE AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, TEACHERS ARE FIGHTING THAT FROM WITHIN. >> MICRO TRIPS IN -- >> MICROCHIPS IN THE VACCINE. LIKE THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO BE FOLLOWING YOU. THAT MADE ME A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE. >> I WAS 100% SURE I WAS NOT GETTING THE VACCINE AT ALL. >> WHEN I SCROLL, I JUST SEE THEM HAVING THESE WEIRD EFFECTS. REPORTER: TIK-TOK, SNAPCHAT, AND INSTAGRAM, APPS POPULAR AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT ALSO ONES FOSTERING MISINFORMATION. THOSE RUMORS CIRCULATING ONLINE MADE THEIR WAY INTO CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER CHANTEL REED’S PRE-MED CLASSROOM. >> WHEN THE VACCINE CAME OUT, I NOTICED HOW NERVOUS AND SCARED THE STUDENTS WERE TO TAKE THE VACCINE. REPORTER: ON A CRUSADE TO TEACH HER STUDENTS THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING INFORMATION FROM CREDIBLE SOURCES, SHE ASSIGNED A RESEARCH PAPER. THE FOCUS WAS THE COVID-19 VACCINE. >> IT WENT FROM, "OH, NO, MISS REED, I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS VACCINE," TO, "WOW, WHERE CAN I SIGN UP?" I’VE TALKED TO MY MOM, I’VE TALKED TO MY GRANDPARENTS, I’VE TALKED TO MY AUNTS AND UNCLES, AND SO NOW, WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY’VE TALKED TO THEIR PEERS. REPORTER: WITH KENTUCKIAN’S 16 AND OVER NOW ABLE TO GET VACCINATED, U OF L DOCTOR EDWARD MILLER SAYS THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY EXPECTED SOME PUSHBACK REGARDING THE VACCINE. >> WILL IT AFFECT MY FERTILITY? WILL IT AFFECT HOW I GROW? HOW I HAVE CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE YEARS? THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT ARE UNIQUELY TARGETED AT OUR YOUTH, AT OUR 16-YEAR-OLDS, 17-YEAR-OLDS, 18-YEAR-OLDS. REPORTER: SO IN AN EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE, WHILE PROMOTING VACCINE EQUITY AND ACCESS, JCPS AND U OF L TEAMED UP. THEY ARE SETTING UP A VACCINATION CLINIC HERE AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL ON SATURDAY WITH A DOSE AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS ONE. >> VACCINES WERE ESSENTIAL IN THE REOPENING OF SCHOOLS, AND THEY WILL BE ESSENTIAL FOR US TO STAY OPEN. REPORTER: THESE STUDENTS, NOW WITH NEW OPINIONS. >> I AM FULLY VACCINATED AND I AM VERY PROUD. REPORTER: ARE HOPEFUL THEY CAN BE EXAMPLE TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEIR CLASSMATES. >> TRUST THE PROFESSIONALS AND WHAT THEY’RE DOING AND THE SCIENTISTS AND DOCTORS AND PEOPLE WHO WENT TO SCHOOL FOR THINGS LIKE THIS.