NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 19, 2021
CONTACT: Dana Kazel, Communications Manager
218-725-5049 (office) • 218-591-2219 (cell)
St. Louis County Public Health offers special vaccination clinic on Range for students 16+ and families
St. Louis County Public Health is holding a vaccination clinic for high school students age 16+ and any family members that age or older. The clinic will be this Thursday, April 22, from 1-6:30 p.m. at the Eveleth Curling Club, 901 Hat Trick Avenue in Eveleth, and will involved the Pfizer vaccine, which is approved for anyone age 16+. Advance registration is recommended to ensure a slot and minimize wait times, however walk-ins will be accepted at this clinic.
People can register for this or any of the county's vaccination clinics offered this week at stlouiscountymn.gov/vaccineregistration.
The clinic is being offered to make it as easy as possible for students to get vaccinated now to minimize the risk of having to quarantine and miss graduation, sports play-off competitions and any other late spring or summer activities and celebrations. A person who is fully vaccinated - meaning two weeks after receiving their final vaccine dose - does not have to quarantine if exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 (unless the person develops symptoms.) The Pfizer vaccine involves two doses administered three weeks apart, so a person getting vaccinated this Thursday should get their second dose around May 13, and would be considered fully vaccinated on May 27.
Case rates and hospitalizations have been increasing in St. Louis County among adolescents and young adults. Last week, 27% of cases occurred in school age children ages 5-19. Getting vaccinated remains the best way to curb community transmission and avoid more mutations of the virus.
"We are working hard with our schools and other community groups to remove any potential obstacles that may prevent someone from getting vaccinated," said Amy Westbrook, Public Health Division Director. "It's why we're offering this clinic after school and evening hours, and it's why we're allowing walk-in appointments. A lot of the student athletes we hope to reach have games or practices that day, which may be difficult to schedule around, so we are allowing walk-in appointments as well to try and better accommodate all."
Anyone age 16-17 who is coming to be vaccinated must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to sign a consent form. An exception will be made for any 16-17 year old who answers “yes” to any of the following questions:
1) Are you living apart from your parents/guardian and managing your own financial affairs?
2) Are you currently or have you ever been married?
3) Have you given birth to a child?
For students in the southern part of the county interested in getting vaccinated, the Pfizer vaccine is also available at several of the county's clinics offered this week in Pike Lake. People are also encouraged to check the state's vaccine locator for a complete list of vaccination opportunities in their area: mn.gov/covid19/vaccine.
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