For Immediate Release:
9/14/2021 3:04 pm
The City of Worcester’s Department of Health and Human Services, with the support of Blue Cross Blue Shield and Archipelago Strategies Group, is collaborating with four youth-oriented organizations throughout the City to host vaccination clinics as part of the Worcester Youth Vax Fall Series.
The Youth Vax Fall Series is the latest initiative of the Department of Health and Human Services aimed at boosting youth vaccination rates. It is critically important to increase vaccination rates as the City deals with sharp increases in the number of positive COVID cases as a result of the Delta variant. Currently, 56 percent of the City is fully vaccinated. Roughly 44 percent of individuals between the ages of 12-29 are fully vaccinated. That is compared to 81 percent of those ages 30-up who are fully vaccinated.
The following clinics are scheduled to be held:
• Friday, Sept. 17, 4-7 p.m., Worcester Youth Center, 326 Chandler St.
• Friday, Sept. 24, 4-7 p.m., Boys & Girls Club, 65 Boys & Girls Club Way
• Friday, Oct. 1, 4-7 p.m., YMCA, 766 Main St.
• Thursday, Oct. 7, 4-7 p.m., Girls Inc., 125 Providence St.
All clinics will feature music, food and raffles, including $150 gift cards for sneakers from Sneakerama, Scoop Drip and EbLens. Anyone receiving a vaccination at any of the four clinics will be eligible to win. Winners will be announced at the clinics by representatives from the partner sites, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Youth Influencers with the Department of Health & Human Services and UMass Medical School.
While the clinics are focused on youths, all are welcome to attend and get vaccinated.
“As a City we need to continue to vaccinate the youth and BIPOC communities so we can protect ourselves against the Delta variant and any other variant that may come in the future,” said Health and Human Services Commissioner Dr. Matilde Castiel. “As the Department of Health and Human Services, we will continue to host accessible vaccination clinics in partnership with community organizations until we reach herd immunity. We are grateful for our funders and youth serving agencies through this partnership, and we hope youth and families will come out to learn more about the vaccine, ask questions, and ultimately get vaccinated.”
“Blue Cross is committed to increasing vaccination rates in our communities,” said Jeff Bellows, vice president of corporate citizenship and public affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. “We are proud to be a part of Worcester’s Youth Vax series promoting easy, equitable access for youth and their families to the safe and effective coronavirus vaccine that will help us end this pandemic.”
For more vaccine information, including a list of upcoming clinics, please visit www.worcesterma.gov/coronavirus/vaccination. Eligible individuals may also enter Worcester’s Youth Vax Giveaway at www.worcesterma.gov/worcesters-youth-vax-giveaway.
