Do Healthy Young People Need the COVID-19 Vaccine?

I'm 15 years old and a youth vaccine advocate. For those who are old enough but still have not been vaccinated, I am sharing my story with you about why I made the choice to get the COVID vaccine—and I urge you to get it, too.

I also encourage everyone who is eligible to get their booster shot to do so right away.

My journey with the COVID-19 vaccine started when I was watching TV and saw that Florida, where my grandparents live, was opening up vaccination appointments to seniors and health care workers for the first time.

My grandparents (pictured above with me) had been living their lives with extreme caution since the pandemic began. They had been refraining from in-person interactions with friends and family. They hadn't seen me or any of their grandkids for many months because we don't live in the same state. They were eager to get COVID vaccines but finding and setting up appointments wasn't easy for them. I wanted to keep them safe, so I vowed to work tirelessly to find them vaccine appointments.

The experience inspired me to start Chicago Vaccine Angels—a group of 50+ volunteers working to get vaccine appointments for health care workers, senior citizens, and essential workers.

My grandparents weren't the only reason I made the choice to get vaccinated. Before the vaccine became available to teens, I was living in constant fear. I was really scared that I might get long-haul COVID and suffer side effects for many years. As a result of my concerns, I rarely saw friends and was extremely careful on the occasions that I did.

When it was my turn to get the COVID-19 vaccine, I was extremely excited.

Don't get me wrong—like every other kid, I don't enjoy getting shots. But this shot was different. This shot allowed me to feel safe in school, hang out with friends and get back to a somewhat normal life.

Again, I'm a teenager and I understand that life hasn't returned to what it was before the pandemic. It has become substantially better now that I'm vaccinated. Today, I can play soccer again and not worry about whether I'm going to be the next person to become seriously ill with COVID-19. Getting vaccinated also allowed me to see my grandparents and extended family.

In my opinion, getting vaccinated is a selfless decision. By getting vaccinated, you are helping to protect not only yourself, but also the older and high-risk people with whom you have frequent contact.

For the United States to return to normalcy, all of us need to get vaccinated so that we can get this dangerous virus under control. So please, do your part and get the shot.

Benjamin Kagan attends high school in Chicago. Founder of the Chicago Vaccine Angels, he is an administrator of the Chicago Vaccine Hunters and a Vaccine Ambassador for the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago.