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Hey teens: "It’s OK. I got vaccinated!"

BY GLORIA HAMMER decrease fears related to getting sick, and
she wants to resume normalcy. But more
The push to vaccinate the country is on. broadly she says,” I know that every per-
Gov. Kate Brown joined other states with son that has immunity helps to collectively
incentives to encourage everyone who is protect our society as a whole.”
eligible to get the vaccine. All residents 18 Mindy has started to think about how the
and over who have received at least one vaccines will affect their summer plans.
shot by June 27 will be entered in the “Take “We haven’t made too many travel plans
Your Shot Oregon” Lottery. A special draw- as of yet, but I feel better and more at ease
ing will be held for young people aged 12 with sending two of our three kids to over-
to 17 who have had one dose. Winners will night camp,” says Mindy. “I will likely sign
be announced around the Fourth of July. them up for day camps and sports camps,
Top prize is $1 million with 36 $10,000 which they have hugely missed.”
prizes for those 18 and older. Oregonians She also feels a huge sense of relief. “I feel
12 to 17 can win one of five $100,000 Ore- less anxious and nervous going to work and
gon College Savings Plan scholarships. being out in public around people.”
After the FDA and CDC authorized the Ari is glad he got the shot.
COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine for those as “It’s worth doing it, it’s worth helping out
young as 12, I asked families with children the world,” he says. “It doesn’t hurt too
ages 12 to 17 to share their reaction. much. The buildup to getting the shot was
My daughter, Jordana Levenick, and her way worse than it actually was, and once
family now live in Bend. I was visiting Sadie Levenick, 12, shows off the sticker you get it, it’s like ‘Oh that wasn’t so bad.’ ”
them when my granddaughter, Sadie, was she received after getting the Pfizer vac- Does the shot make the kids feel more
scheduled to get her shot. Sadie, 12, a cine, which is approved for ages 12 and up. positive about the future?
sixth-grader at Pacific Crest Middle School, “Yeah,” says Noah. “After everyone is
said her shot was scheduled before school adds the shot itself “felt like getting hit fully vaccinated, it will be harder to trans-
started. “I was not thinking too much about lightly with a hammer in my arm.” Enzo mit the virus, we won’t have to wear masks.
it, because I got up so early. It didn’t hurt.” wants other young people to get a shot in After you are fully vaccinated, it will make
Why did she get vaccinated? “I got vacci- the arm. “Get the vaccine, or you may not it feel more normal, and I’m excited!”
nated to keep myself safe and other people be going to go back to school!” He is look- Ari adds, “It makes me feel like I helped
I’m around safe. Now I will feel more com- ing forward to having fun. and I did what was right. I contributed to
fortable when I’m not wearing a mask.” Sol was a bit anxious before his vaccine, what the world needs to get back to life
She is apprehensive about getting the but says, “It did not hurt, and I did not get before COVID. COVID is really annoying,
second shot. “My mom didn’t feel good sick.” Sol believes that getting the vaccine and life before COVID was way better.”
after her second shot, I’ll be glad when it’s “only has pros and really no cons.” Noah says he was a bit nervous on his way
over.” But seeing her mom not feel well for Asked if he feels positive that he can get to get the vaccine. “It was like going to my
a couple of days also made her realize “I’d back to normal life, he replies, “OMG yes!” bar mitzvah, because I was really excited
rather not risk getting COVID and being Stacey Lebenzon, who works for BB but very nervous. I was expecting it to hurt,
sick for a couple of weeks or more.” Camp, and her 14-year-old son, Leo, who but it didn’t. Afterwards I had a bit of a
The vaccine will also make her feel saf- attends Portland Jewish Academy, both got headache and was kind of tired.”
er at camp. “I’ve been going to BB Camp the shot. Ari describes the shot as similar to a “fly
since I can remember. On June 18, I’ll be “Not feeling comfortable and not freely or bug going on your arm and flying away.
getting my second shot, safe and ready for interacting with other people for over a year My arm hurt for a little bit afterward, but it
camp.” has been profoundly challenging,” says wasn’t too bad.”
Portland pediatrician Dr. Bruce Birk, his Stacey. “I was incredibly relieved when el- Do they have any words of wisdom for
wife, Jennifer, and two sons also discussed igibility opened up for 12- to 15-year-olds other kids or parents who might be wor-
getting vaccinated. Enzo, 15, attends to get the vaccine.” ried?
Cleveland High, and Solomon, 12, attends Stacey believes with each person who “If you are a little apprehensive, it’s been
Hosford Middle School. gets vaccinated, we are one step closer to tested, and many people have gotten it
First and foremost, the family wanted to being able to let down our guard and truly and nothing has happened to them,” says
protect themselves and their community connect with other people again. Noah. “If you are nervous, try reading valid
from COVID. Now that they are all vac- “The shot felt like any other shot, it hurt sources.”
cinated, they plan to socialize and eat out. for a second,” says Leo. “It wasn’t that big Ezra, 9, says, “I feel sad that I’m the only
The boys plan to attend B’nai B’rith Camp, of a deal. I was tired the next day but didn’t one in my family that isn’t vaccinated. It
and the family plans to visit extended fam- feel sick.” seems cool to be vaccinated because then
ily in other states. Leo thinks kids should get vaccinated. you can take off your mask!”
“I felt an amazing sense of relief and hope “Get the vaccine, because it’s better than Pfizer and Moderna have started testing
upon receiving the vaccine,” says Dr. Birk. getting coronavirus.” their vaccines in children under age 12.
“My wife, Jennifer, was so inspired by the Dr. Mark and Mindy Zeitzer have three Johnson & Johnson also has announced
experience, she volunteers to give others kids who attend PJA – Noah in eighth plans to develop trials for children. In May,
the COVID vaccine.” grade, Ari in sixth and Ezra in third. Pfizer announced it expects to seek an
Enzo says he was not anxious about the A professor of nursing, Mindy wants emergency use authorization for its vaccine
shot. “I did not get sick after,” he says, but to feel protected against COVID to help for children ages 2 to 11 in September.
Jewish Review June 9, 2021 3