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“I’m nervous about what’s in the vaccine,” said Ms. Burke, a student at Western Michigan University from Chicago. “Personally I think I’ll put it off until I totally get it.”
Ms Burke said her family wanted her to get vaccinated but was concerned about vaccines affecting a woman’s reproductive system, a concern that has surfaced in multiple interviews with young women. Scientists said there is no evidence that vaccines affect fertility or pregnancy.
However, rare but real side effects have emerged as a serious concern, especially for young adults who feel they are at low risk from the virus itself. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccinations were stopped briefly this spring after rare blood clots were discovered in young women. Federal health officials said last week that the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines may have caused heart problems in about 1,200 Americans, many of whom are under 30, though they said the benefits of the vaccination still far outweigh the risks.
Not all this long ago, most people in their teens and twenties were not eligible for a vaccine. In the winter and early spring, as demand increased over supply, states prioritized their oldest and sickest residents in filming. By late April, all adults were eligible. But by then, case numbers have fallen sharply from the winter peak, and demand in younger age groups has not approached levels seen among the elderly. Many, but not all, colleges require students to be vaccinated before returning for fall semesters.
“I think for the younger generation, we now have to build the case for them to be vaccinated,” said Dr. Sarah Van Orman, chief health officer for the University of Southern California Student Health System. “I think we have a long way to go for that.”
Of course, millions of young people have already been vaccinated and still others are planning to get an injection. Temporary vaccination clinics in workplaces, transit stations and Major League Soccer games, including one last week in Kansas City, Kansas, have helped reach more people in that age group. Several states are trying lotteries and other incentives to attract interest. However, many young people said they did not see a compelling reason to vaccinate.
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