Low COVID-19 vaccination participation aligns with low infection rates

Annika Kim, The Rubicon • November 30, 2023

LOW NUMBERS. Rates of COVID remain low in Minnesota, as do booster vaccination rates. INFORMATION: Minnesota Department of Heath

Up-to-date vaccination means that a person has received a vaccine dose for the current year of COVID-19 vaccine, but according to the MN Department of Health, as of Oct. 19, the percentage of people who are up to date in the state of Minnesota is 4.8%.

A large percent of up-to-date recipients are from those that are older than 50, with 16.4% of the 65+ age group being vaccinated. Those in the 12-15 and 16-17 age group each have only 1.3% of the population having received the vaccine this year.

Although the rate of COVID booster vaccines are significantly lower this year and with teens, senior Cooper Olson believes that it is important for students to get vaccinated to protect themselves and the community.

“I think that it’d be good to prioritize getting a booster shot because there’s no reason not to make sure that everybody’s staying safe,” he said.

While it is possible for individuals to get COVID even after receiving the booster, the rate at which this happens is significantly lower once someone is up-todate and symptoms from the illness are milder.

Junior Scarlett Gibson has had COVID in the past, and also recommends that people get the booster to lower the chances of getting andspreading the disease inside and outside of school.

“I think it’s very important as someone who had COVID before,” she said. “Do it for yourself and others around you, or you’ll get sick.”

Booster shots have been proven to help prevent the spread of COVID, as they are formulated to work against new variants. Receiving the vaccine raises antibody levels within people immediately, greatly reducing the likelihood of getting the disease.

More than seven million people have received their COVID-19 booster in the U.S. according to data collected by the US Department of Health and Human Services from October.

Back in 2022, however, 18 million people received the vaccine within six weeks of CDC approval, more than twice the data from 2023. The CDC recommends vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech for everyone six months and older.

About the Contributors

Annika Kim, Mixed Media Editor

Annika Kim (she/her) sets a goal to produce one animated short film per year. She loves learning how to use new programs to make different forms of art, and is constantly amazed by people who create solo with limited resources. Her favorite activity when watching a movie is to overanalyze the deeper meaning behind the camera angles and color schemes of the shots. Kim is the Mixed Media editor for The Rubicon. She can be reached at [email protected].

Orion Kim, co-Editor in Chief

My name is Orion Kim (he/him) and I’m the co-Editor in Chief of The Rubicon. At school, I’m captain of the soccer team and a member of the Asian Student Alliance. I also love to play the piano, watch movies, and eat good food. I can be reached at [email protected].

Comments (0)

Comments are welcomed on most stories at The Rubicon online. The Rubicon hopes this promotes thoughtful and meaningful discussion. We do not permit or publish libel or defamatory statements; comments that advertise or try to sell to the community; any copyrighted, trademarked or intellectual property of others; the use of profanity. Comments will be moderated, but not edited, and will post after they are approved by the Director of RubicOnline. It is at the discretion of the staff to close the comments option on stories.

Share your thoughts...

All The Rubicon Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.