As of Friday, April 9, teens ages 16 and up have been cleared by the FDA to receive the Pfizer Covid vaccine. Previously, in order to receive the vaccine as a teen, people had to be either high risk or an essential worker. Now that phase two has commenced, any Coloradoans that are 16 and older may receive the Pfizer vaccine. The FDA has yet to approve the Moderna or Janssen vaccine for teens. This means that Eaton High School students are eligible to receive the Covid vaccine if they wish to do so. 

To get the Covid vaccine, people must schedule an appointment at an available pharmacy. Walmart, Sam’s Club, Safeway, Cardinal, King Soopers, and Costco pharmacies are all offering the vaccine. To schedule an appointment, visit vaccinefinder.org and find an available pharmacy. Then, go to the pharmacy’s website, schedule an appointment, and go to the pharmacy on the agreed-upon date. Parental consent is required. 

The vaccine is given via a shot in the upper muscle of the arm. There are two shots, each received 21 days apart from the other. Common symptoms of the Pfizer vaccine include pain, redness, and swelling in the arm where the shot was administered. Tiredness, headaches, muscle pain, chills, a fever, and nausea can be expected after either of the two shots. 

How do vaccines work?

According to the CDC, “mRNA vaccines contain material from the virus that causes COVID-19 that gives our cells instructions for how to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus. After our cells make copies of the protein, they destroy the genetic material from the vaccine.” Essentially, the vaccine contains small parts of the Covid virus. Once injected into the body, cells can make a protein that will fight off the virus and make the body immune to Covid. 

Hayden Pollman (23) has already received the first dose of the Covid vaccine. “I don’t think it’s worth it, but I also don’t think it hurts, so you might as well get it,” Pollman said.

Just over one year ago, Covid shocked the world and changed the lives of billions of people. The thought of living a normal life again seemed almost impossible to many people. Now that there is a vaccine, life could potentially bounce back to the usual.