34% of youngest eligible people in Worcester vaccinated compared to 85% of oldest residents

WORCESTER, Mass. — Worcester city leaders are putting the call out for people – especially younger generations -- to get the COVID-19 vaccine amidst climbing case numbers.

“I’m extremely concerned about it,” said Worcester Health and Human Services Commissioner Mattie Castiel.

The latest numbers show a huge gap in vaccination rates in Worcester rapidly decreasing in younger age groups: 85% of residents 75+ are vaccinated, 89% of residents 65-74 are vaccinated, 78% of residents 50-64 are vaccinated, 63% of residents 30-49 are vaccinated, 45% of residents 20-29 are vaccinated, 38% of residents 16-19 are vaccinated and 34% of residents 12-15 are vaccinated. “They [young people] are getting the disease, and they’re certainly transmitting the disease,” said Castiel.

In an effort to incentivize young people to get the shot, the city is now offering a special Youth Vax Giveaway, with a prize raffle for fully vaccinated residents ages 12 to 24.

Eligible people can click here to register to win an iPad Air, bicycles, television sets, Nintendo Switches and more. “Herd immunity was around 70 to 80%, so if you look at these numbers, we’re nowhere near that,” said Castiel. “So everyone needs to get vaccinated.”

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