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Luke Reynoso a 16-year-old sophomore from Pasadena High School gets vaccinated by Dr. Ying-Ying Goh, the Health Officer and Director of Pasadena Public Health Department, during a walk up or drive-thru vaccination clinic for 16- and 17-year-olds from the Pasadena Unified School District, at Victory Park in Pasadena, Thursday, April 29, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Dr. Ying-Ying Goh, the Health Officer and Director of Pasadena Public Health Department, discusses the vaccination clinic available for 16- and 17-year-olds during a walk-up or drive-thru vaccination clinic for Pasadena Unified School District, at Victory Park in Pasadena, Thursday, April 29, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Luke Reynoso, 16, left, Noah Reynoso, 16, and Ryann Reynoso, 16, all sophomores from Pasadena High School, get information about what to expect when vaccinated during a walk up or drive-thru vaccination clinic at Victory Park in Pasadena, Thursday, April 29, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Volunteers guide student patients to prepare them to be vaccinated during a walk-up or drive-thru vaccination clinic for 16- and 17-year-olds from the Pasadena Unified School District at Victory Park in Pasadena, Thursday, April 29, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Dr. Ying-Ying Goh, the Health Officer and Director of Pasadena Public Health Department, during a walk-up or drive-thru vaccination clinic for 16- and 17-year-olds from the Pasadena Unified School District at Victory Park in Pasadena, Thursday, April 29, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Ryann Reynoso, a 16-year-old sophomore from Pasadena High School, gets vaccinated by Dr. Ying-Ying Goh the Health Officer and Director of Pasadena Public Health Department, during the walk up or drive-thru vaccination clinic for 16- and 17-year-olds from the Pasadena Unified School District, at Victory Park in Pasadena, Thursday, April 29, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Students who are 16- and 17-years-old are available to get vaccinated and also take a "selfie" during the walk up or drive-thru vaccination clinic for 16- and 17-year-olds from the Pasadena Unified School District, at Victory Park in Pasadena, Thursday, April 29, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Ryann Reynoso a 16-year-old sophomore from Pasadena High School, wears a pin reading "I Got vaccinated" as she is interviewed by the media during the walk up or drive-thru vaccination clinic for 16 and 17-year-olds from the Pasadena Unified School District, at Victory Park in Pasadena, Thursday, April 29, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Luke Reynoso a 16-year-old sophomore from Pasadena High School hugs his mother Julianne Reynoso after getting vaccinated during a walk-up or drive thru vaccination clinic for 16- and 17-year-olds from the Pasadena Unified School District at Victory Park in Pasadena, Thursday, April 29, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Hoping to buck a trend seen across the county while also paving the way for a return to normalcy for young Pasadenans, Dr. Ying-Ying Goh, health officer and director of the Pasadena Public Health Department, pitched in to help administer vaccinations at a clinic Thursday primarily for 16- and 17-year-olds.
Teens in that age group have been vaccinated at a much lower rate than adults across L.A. county and the city. Pasadena’s vaccination rate for adults aged 45 to 64 is 81.5%, but only 52.9% for teens aged 16-17. According to Pasadena Unified, there were about 1,500 district students eligible for vaccination.
But now that Pasadena Unified has reopened to in-person learning and normal high school activities are returning, students should be vaccinated to fully take advantage of sports, activities like proms, and of course, the upcoming June 4 graduation ceremonies in the Rose Bowl, officials said.
A single infection of a student can have effects on their peers and friends, said Pasadena spokesperson Lisa Derderian, noting that if one player on a sports team becomes infected, for instance, it could have ramifications for the entire team.
City officials said the clinic’s goal was to fully vaccinate PUSD seniors and their families in time for June graduations. Nearly 500 vaccination were given, according to Derderian.
The clinic for the teens was held in Victory Park and sponsored by the city and the Pasadena Unified School District along with Huntington Hospital.
The clinic administered the Pfizer formulation of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is the only one currently approved by federal health officials for use in people 16 and over, will be used at the clinic. The other existing vaccines are not cleared for use in people under 18.
A second student vaccination clinic was in the process of being set up at Muir High School, officials added.
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