Young people lag behind others in getting the COVID-19 vaccine in Forsyth County, as in most of the country journalnow.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from journalnow.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
With K-12 school openings in North Carolina about six weeks away, we have a grand opportunity to prepare to avert disaster later by demanding that substantial COVID precautions be required of students, faculty and staff â especially as the more contagious delta variant spreads in the Southern states.
School districts and administrators have been advised to continue to require students to wear masks indoors and maintain 3 feet of distance by infectious diseases experts and health care researchers, the Journalâs Richard Craver reported Monday. This is especially necessary since no COVID vaccine has been approved for kindergartners through age 11 and only around 20% or 25% of those ages 12 to 17 have received at least one dose of the approved Pfizer vaccine.
The first round of vaccinating youths ages 12 to 15 is taking place at local mass-vaccination sites, although there are plans to potentially have doses available in pediatric offices by early fall.
Novant Health Inc. and Forsyth County Department of Public Health began providing first doses to that age group Thursday at their respective mass-vaccination sites at Hanes Mall and 799 Highland Ave.
Wake Forest Baptist Healthâs Brenner Childrenâs Hospital will hold a vaccination clinic for teens Saturday at Winston-Salem State Universityâs Anderson Center, 1545 Reynolds Park Road. Appointments can be made by calling (336) 702-6843.
Novant offers walk-in vaccinations at Hanes Mall from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, although making an appointment is preferable. The number of walk-in slots is subject to change based on supply.