CDC director pleads with teens to get vaccinated after hospitalizations rise

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday urged teens to get vaccinated against COVID-19 — amid an increase in the rate of adolescents being hospitalized with the virus.

“I am deeply concerned by the numbers of hospitalized adolescents and saddened to see the number of adolescents who required treatment in intensive care units or mechanical ventilation,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement. “Much of this suffering can be prevented.”