Kaiser Permanente is making it easier for teens to get vaccinated through partnerships with local school districts and pop-up vaccine events that encourage young people in our communities to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Last month, Kaiser Permanente began vaccinating adolescents 12 to 15 years old. Since then, there have been many outreach efforts in the community to spur further vaccinations.

In California, the 12 to 17 age group has received 5.2% of the vaccines administered and make up 9.3% of the vaccine eligible population, according to the most recent data available from the California Department of Public Health. Teens remain the smallest segment of the state’s population to receive the vaccine.

Boosting vaccinations in Alameda County

Kaiser Permanente recently hosted free COVID-19 vaccination events in southern Alameda County.

At an afternoon pop-up clinic co-hosted with the Hayward Unified School District at Anthony W. Ochoa Middle School for children 12 and older and their families, members of the San Leandro Medical Center Vaccination Team answered questions about vaccine safety.

“It’s super exciting to see parents making the decision to have their children vaccinated. Our Latino, Asian, and African American communities have been hit hard,” said San Leandro Medical Center pediatrician Roxanna Martinez Allen, MD.

More than 115 students and family members received vaccines, as well as $25 grocery gift cards.

Kaiser Permanente Fremont Medical Center recently vaccinated more than 150 teens at a 12-hour pop-up clinic.

Tara Prasad, 14, received her first Pfizer shot. She said she’s looking forward to returning to normal social events with her friends.

“It’s important to keep everyone in the community safe,” she added.

Two week ago, the San Leandro Medical Center hosted a successful teen event with 220 teens vaccinated.

Taking vaccines to the schools in Contra Costa County

Mobile vaccine clinics are now being offered at several school sites in Contra Costa County thanks to a partnership with Contra Costa Health Services, Kaiser Permanente, and the Contra Costa Office of Education.

At one of the first clinics held at Antioch Middle School last month, dozens of students showed up to the cafeteria to get their first vaccine.

Eighth-grader Miguel Castro was one of the first to get vaccinated at the school. He said he was grateful to receive the vaccine, and he was looking forward to spending more time with his friends.

Social media posts encourage vaccinations in Sacramento

Dozens of Elk Grove junior and high school students were vaccinated recently at an event in South Sacramento. Through a partnership with the school district, Kaiser Permanente provided the vaccines to the students.

The student leaders then posted on their social media channels about their experience and encouraged their peers to get the vaccine as well. Cheerleaders, athletes, and leadership students participated in the vaccination event.

The students said they wanted to share with others how the vaccine can help bring an end to the pandemic and keep everyone in their community safe.

7