Santa Clara County is now distributing COVID-19 vaccinations to children ages 5 – 11. Immediately following the Nov. 2 approval of the vaccine by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the County announced plans to roll out the vaccine.
“This is an important step in protecting our children and our community, providing relief for families, and creating an additional level of protection to maintain in-person learning for our schools,” said Dr. Sara Cody, Health Officer and Director of Public Health for the County of Santa Clara. “We encourage all parents with children aged 5 and older to get their children vaccinated now.”
The first vaccinations started on Nov. 3. Currently, Pfizer is the only vaccine available for children ages 5 – 11. Parents and guardians can visit www.sccfreevax.org to sign up for an appointment or find a nearby walk-in location. CVS also has appointments.
The County says current appointments are reserved but it expects to receive an increased vaccination supply in the coming weeks. It also plans to bring on-site vaccinations to approximately 80 schools in Santa Clara County.
Santa Clara Unified School District says it is working with the County to identify potential dates and locations within the district.
The County says vaccination will help all students.
“Vaccinated students will be able to participate in more activities and events,” said Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, Superintendent of Schools in Santa Clara County. “Getting vaccinated helps keep students in in-person school, reducing the risk that they will have to stay at home away from school after exposure to someone with COVID-19.”
SCC Public Health Department Launches COVID-19 Vaccination Contest for Teens
The County of Santa Clara County Public Health Department has launched a new contest for local youth to educate their peers about the COVID-19 vaccine. The VaxUp Video Contest is open to 6th to 12th graders.
“Our kids and teens have shown us many times over how this pandemic has affected them on a personal level. This contest gives them a creative outlet to show the community what vaccinations mean to them,” said Dr. Monika Roy, Assistant Health Officer for the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department. “We cannot wait to see the entries and showcase the winners.”
There are two categories—one for middle school and one for high school. Students or teams of students will compete for cash prizes ranging from $500 to $1,500. The deadline for entries is Nov. 15, 2021.
All students currently attending 6th to 12th grade in Santa Clara County are eligible to enter the contest, as long as they have an adult sponsor affiliated with a school, such as a teacher or coach. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony live-streamed on the Public Health Department’s social media channels.
- Teams of up to five students create videos 30 to 60 seconds long and post on Instagram and Tik Tok with hashtag #sccVaxUpVideo. Many video styles are welcome, including acted scenes, performance art, and music videos.
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will be selected by a panel of volunteer judges for two categories: 6th to 8th graders and 9th to 12th graders.
- Cash prizes will be awarded for both categories: $1,500, $1,000 and $500, plus $500 for the schools with a 1st place winner. Prizes are funded by a grant through the VMC Foundation.
For contest rules and how to enter, visit www.sccVaxUpVideo.org.