Covid: start of vaccination for 12-15 year olds in the United States

Audio 01:12

Vaccination at Northwell Health Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York, USA on May 13, 2021.

REUTERS - SHANNON STAPLETON

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

In the United States, 12-15 year olds can now be vaccinated against Covid-19: the American health authorities have just given the green light for this age group to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

In all, 17 million young people are eligible.

An announcement generally well received by teenagers who want to find outings and carefree.

Publicity

Read more

With our correspondent in New York

,

Carrie Nooten

Milo, 13, was keen to get vaccinated from the first day the Covid vaccine would be available for his age group and return to his teenage life. So on Friday night, he walked out of the Times Square vaccination center relieved. "

It is a big step that the children we can be vaccinated," he

explains.

And that's also important, because I don't want to catch it, but I don't want to pass it on either. And then I also want to have the vaccine for this summer: I want to be able to go to summer camp in complete safety, to go on vacation, to be with my family…

”

He came with his father, Paul. He is sure of it, the vaccination of the greatest number remains the only way out of the pandemic: “

We hoped that he could do it immediately. The rest of the family is vaccinated, including her 16-year-old brother. We want to be able to go out to eat inside, and everyone to be safe. We have had our children vaccinated with every vaccine possible for all other diseases… and those who don't are crazy

!

"

If Milo says that all his friends want to be vaccinated, the reality is more mixed: many young people do not feel concerned.

The cases of Covid evolve, it is true, generally in a less serious way for their age group.

According to one study, only parents of 3 in 10 adolescents in this age group are ready to have their children immunized immediately.

► To read also:

United States: the lifting of the compulsory wearing of the mask for the vaccinated sows the confusion

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• United States

• Vaccines

• Coronavirus