More Pasadena Unified Students Vaccinated at John Muir High School Clinic

The second vaccination clinic for 16- and 17-year-olds and their eligible family members was held by the school district, the city’s health dept. and Huntington Hospital at John Muir High School on Friday.

“We’re reaching out to the community so they can take advantage of our vaccination program,” said Muir High School alum Dr. Kimberly Shriner, an infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital.

Added Shriner, “It’s super important that you get vaccinated, that’s the only way out of this pandemic.”

According to Shriner, Huntington Hospital has now vaccinated tens of thousands of patients as part of its hospital and mobile efforts.

Doses of the two-shot regime Pfizer vaccine were distributed Friday.

“The doses are very effective and very safe,” said Shriner. “It’s an excellent vaccine, and all of our staff at Huntington have received it. But all of the vaccines are effective and safe, and we strongly encourage everyone to be vaccinated. It will protect you from this disease. It will protect your family.”

Shriner also pointed out that the vaccine eligibility opened to people 16 and older a few weeks ago, and said that she anticipated that the Pfizer vaccine will be available for patients 12 years old and above this coming week, pending final approval.

“Eventually,” she added, “it may be that all children above the age of six months will have access to the vaccine. It’s very important that everyone get vaccinated so that we can get out of this pandemic. They are the most essential tool in getting our lives back to some sense of normalcy.

140 million people in the U.S. have now been vaccinated, she said.

John Muir High School Principal Dr. Lawton Gray was pleased with the turnout Friday, saying, “Things are going great. We have so many people here to get their vaccinations. We have both students and parents here, and this is a great opportunity.”

Gray said that the next mobile clinic will likely be held at Blair High School.