The Biden administration is pushing more young adults to get vaccinated against COVID-19 through social media and with the help of popular celebrities as concerns grow over the risk the virus poses to youth.
Olivia Rodrigo visited the White House on Wednesday to promote vaccinations to young people through videos with President Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci, Biden’s chief medical adviser.
Rodrigo is an 18-year-old singer and actress whose debut album, Sour, is currently No. 1 on the charts. She has 28 million followers across her social media platforms.
“It doesn't matter if you're young and healthy, getting the vaccine is about protecting yourself, your friends and your family,” Rodrigo said in a video posted to the White House’s Twitter account.
She also posted about the visit to her social media profiles and encouraged her followers to find the nearest vaccination center.
Rodrigo’s White House appearance occurs as coronavirus cases are resurging due to the rise of the delta variant, mainly among unvaccinated people. The delta variant is far more contagious than the original strain of the coronavirus and became the dominant strain in the U.S. in July, accounting for more than 51% of new COVID-19 cases in the country. It was also declared the dominant strain globally on Friday.
According to a University of California San Francisco study released Wednesday, a quarter of individuals ages 18 to 25 are unlikely to get vaccinated, despite data showing that their age group is the most likely to transmit the virus to others.
“Prompt vaccinations could help limit the further development of virulent variants and infection rates among the vulnerable and unvaccinated,” said Sally Adams, the study's lead author.
In their push to reach more young people, Biden and Fauci have also appeared in videos alongside popular YouTube stars, answering questions about the virus and vaccine.
Olivia Rodrigo and Joe Biden today! 🇺🇸💉 pic.twitter.com/nnkEqUWtg9
— Olivia Rodrigo Charts (@ChartsRodrigo) July 15, 2021
“The science behind both the safety and the efficacy of the vaccine is truly extraordinary. We never put people down for asking questions about their concerns about the vaccine, but they need to know that the science that went into it is absolutely pristine,” Fauci said in response to one YouTuber’s question about people who are afraid of getting the vaccine.
Another White House initiative involved a partnership with Tinder, a popular dating app, that pointed users toward the nearest vaccination site and helped them connect with other vaccinated users.
Biden has also announced that he plans to send more vaccines to primary care doctors so the shots are readily available to young adults who go in for checkups before in-person classes and sports start in the fall.
Though the chances of contracting severe symptoms from the coronavirus are lower for young adults, the danger remains that they could become seriously ill or transmit the virus to an unvaccinated individual who is more susceptible to its effects, such as an older adult.
Young adults who are hesitant to get vaccinated have cited concerns about side effects or the safety of the vaccine, while others feel that they don’t need to be protected from the coronavirus because they are less likely to become hospitalized.
Still others have chosen to wait and see how the vaccine affects others before getting it themselves.
Studies across the board have concluded COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, including against more contagious strains like delta.
As of Friday, 25.8% of Americans ages 12-15 are fully vaccinated, followed by 37.8% of 16- to 17-year-olds and 42.1% of individuals ages 18-24, according to CDC data.
