Worcester Offers Shots For Sneakers In Youth Vaccine Push

WORCESTER, MA — For young people in Worcester, a shot in the arm may mean a wardrobe upgrade.

Worcester will begin a series of youth-focused coronavirus vaccine clinics this week, and each one will offer the chance to win $150 gift cards to local sneaker shops Sneakerama, Scoop Drip and EbLens. Each event will also feature food and music, according to organizers.

The new effort is aimed at boosting vaccine rates among young people — just 44 percent of city residents between 12 and 29 are fully vaccinated (it's 80 percent among people over 30), an alarmingly low number given the trifecta of the delta variant, schools reopening and high transmission rates in the region.

"As a city we need to continue to vaccinate the youth and BIPOC communities so we can protect ourselves against the delta variant and any other variant that may come in the future," Health and Human Services Commissioner Dr. Matilde Castiel said in a news release this week.

Worcester is also offering bigger prizes to people under age 24. The city will hold a series of drawings through Nov. 11 for items like bikes, iPads and smart TVs.

There are three vaccines available in the U.S., including the FDA-approved Pfizer version (also available for people as young as 12), the two-shot Moderna version and the single-shot Johnson & Johnson version.

The first youth clinic will be held Friday at the Worcester Youth Center, 326 Chandler St., from 4 to 7 p.m. (Each clinic will offer shots to anyone who wants one.) The remaining clinics will happen:

• Sept. 24 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club, 65 Boys & Girls Club Way
• Oct. 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the YMCA, 766 Main St.
• Oct. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Girls Inc., 125 Providence St.