
US Communities Push to Vaccinate Young Adults
Voice of America
FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND - The race to get the COVID-19 vaccine into the arms of Americans is now focusing on young adults and adolescents. They’re eligible to be vaccinated but not necessarily rushing out to get the shot.
Charlene Mitchell knocks on the doors of homes in an African American neighborhood outside Washington, D.C. She’s in search of those who haven’t received a COVID-19 vaccination. Mitchell is among thousands of foot soldiers canvassing U.S. communities hoping to encourage hesitant young Americans to get a shot. “Reaching those who are reluctant requires you talk to them face to face,” Mitchell tells VOA. "I try to give young folks science-based information and tell them they shouldn’t be scared of the shot.” Mitchell and her mother are part of a group in Prince George’s County, Maryland, hoping to encourage reluctant young adults to get vaccinated. “I explain how they can help protect others from getting sick.”
Callum Ganz, 17, center, gives a pre-show pep talk to castmates in 'Crazy for You' on opening night as the Theatre Palisades Youth group returns to the stage after losing their theater in the Palisades fire, in Los Angeles, Feb. 28, 2025. A Theatre Palisades stands next to the theater destroyed by the Palisades Fire, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Calif., Jan. 25, 2025.

Staff at the Mission Control outside Austin, Texas celebrating as lunar lander Blue Ghost touches down on the moon with a special delivery for NASA, March 2, 2025. (NASA/Firefly Aerospace via AP) Private lunar lander Blue Ghost after touching down on the moon with a special delivery for NASA, March 2, 2025. (NASA/Firefly Aerospace via AP)

Staff at the Mission Control outside Austin, Texas celebrating as lunar lander Blue Ghost touches down on the moon with a special delivery for NASA, March 2, 2025. (NASA/Firefly Aerospace via AP) Private lunar lander Blue Ghost after touching down on the moon with a special delivery for NASA, March 2, 2025. (NASA/Firefly Aerospace via AP)

FILE- Washington Attorney General Nick Brown walks down the steps of a federal court in Seattle after a hearing over President Donald Trump's order against gender-affirming care for youth, Feb. 28, 2025. FILE -Washington Attorney General Nick Brown listens to a question during a news conference after a hearing in federal court in Seattle, Feb. 28, 2025, over President Donald Trump's order against gender-affirming care for youth. FILE - Supporters listen as Washington Attorney General Nick Brown responds to questions at a news conference after a hearing in a federal court in Seattle over President Donald Trump's order against gender-affirming care for youth, Feb. 28, 2025.