Baltimore Teens Have An Opinion About Covid-19...and It May Surprise You
There are many different views about the Covid-19 vaccine, and everyone is entitled to their opinion. We asked teens in our Y Community School programs to share their thoughts on the vaccine and why they made a personal decision to get vaxxed or not.
We invite you to watch the videos below and hear their rationale for yourself; maybe even take their advice.
Young people are often overlooked as providers of sound wisdom, but as these students demonstrate, they are confident and capable of expressing their views and are selfless beyond their years.
Special thanks to the Open Society Institute (OSI) and Kaiser Permanente for their partnership and support, and to the Baltimore Equitable Vaccination Initiative and Wide Angle Youth Media for giving our teens a platform to voice their opinion
Zariah Simmons, Forest Park Senior High School
"I decided not to put my family through that..."
Zariah Simmons
"I decided not to put my family through that..."
Antonio Dismel, Reginald F. Lewis High School
"I don't want kids to bring it back to their families or [I] bring it back to my family."
Antonio Dismel
"I don't want kids to bring it back to their families or [I] bring it back to my family."
Tia Thomas, Towson University
"When I got the vaccine I felt more confident being around my loved ones."
Tia Thomas
"When I got the vaccine I felt more confident being around my loved ones."
Maria Uben, Reginald F. Lewis High School
"I wanted to protect my family and my closest ones."
Maria Uben
"I wanted to protect my family and my closest ones."
Jade McDonald, Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School (MERVO)
"Think about the positive effect it can have on your community."
Jade McDonald
"Think about the positive effect it can have on your community."
Destiny Holmes, Forest Park High School
"If you're undecided, get the vaccine. I'd rather you be safe than sorry."
Destiny Holmes
"If you're undecided, get the vaccine. I'd rather you be safe than sorry."
Purshea Griffith, Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School (MERVO)
"Think about others and not just yourself."
Purshea Griffith
"Think about others and not just yourself."
Aiara Manning, Western High School Graduate
"The misinformation on the internet is harming you more than it's helping you..."
Aiara Manning
"The misinformation on the internet is harming you more than it's helping you..."
(The 5G comment Aiara shared is in reference to the false rumor that 5G cell phones cause Covid.)
Makayla Jennings, Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School (MERVO)
"Before you say no, read the facts...you'll see that the vaccine is very important for our community..."
Makayla Jennings
"Before you say no, read the facts...you'll see that the vaccine is very important for our community..."
Sydney Smith, Morgan State University
"Think about the ones you love and protect them."
Sydney Smith
"Think about the ones you love and protect them."