HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- Wednesday marked the first day of vaccinations for kids 12 and over at the Richmond Raceway's mass vaccination clinic, which has been up and running since January.
Officials hope a lot of kids 12 and over as well as 16 and 17-year-olds will get vaccinated at the raceway over the next several days since vaccinating that population will help get the state closer to herd immunity.
Several kids getting jabbed with their first Pfizer dose shared why they decided to get vaccinated.
"It's going to be better to be around everyone else in my family because almost everyone has gotten vaccinated so far," 13-year-old Noah Amato, who attends JEJ Moore Middle School in Prince George, said. "So I feel like this is pretty important."
Sixteen-year-old Shane Washington, who attends Varina High School in Henrico, said getting vaccinated is important.
"The pandemic been rough, so everyone's trying to get this done and over with so we can all have a normal life," Washington said.
For 12-year-old Allan Green, who attends Elko Middle School in Henrico, the main reason for getting vaccinated was so he does not contract the coronavirus.
Along with appointments, the Raceway accepts walk-ups. Officials are encouraging anyone who still needs a shot to come out and get one.
"The more people we can vaccinate, the better off. You know, our kids will be doing sports, the better off they'll be going to school, the more protected we are as a community," Baynard said.
However, the clinic will open for the last time next Thursday, May 27. As a result, those getting their first dose will have to go elsewhere to get their second.
Organizers, who are helping folks getting vaccinated schedule their second shots, pointed out that there are lots of other options, including pharmacies, pediatricians and other clinics.
Officials have been winding down operations since the demand for the vaccine has been dwindling and the shots are widely available in pharmacies and doctors' offices.
Virginians age 16+ now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine. Register on the Vaccinate Virginia website or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-275-8343). You can search for specific vaccines as well as which are available near you via the Vaccine Finder website.
Have You Been Fully Vaccinated?
People are considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
How to Protect Yourself and Others When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated
COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting you from getting sick. Based on what we know about COVID-19 vaccines, people who have been fully vaccinated can start to do some things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic.
We’re still learning how vaccines will affect the spread of COVID-19. After you’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you should keep taking precautions—like wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces—in public places until we know more.
These recommendations can help you make decisions about daily activities after you are fully vaccinated. They are not intended for healthcare settings.
Click here for more information from the Virginia Department of Health.