Over the past year, the goal of getting society back to normal has been one of the top priorities of the community. Many have been hard at work developing plans and procedures for returning things to the way they were before the Coronavirus pandemic struck the United States. Recently, a light has been shed on these efforts as the COVID-19 vaccines have been rolling out to citizens over the past four months.

Beginning on April 19th, President Joe Biden has directed all states to open vaccine eligibility to any citizen over the age of 16. This means that anyone 16 or older is eligible to receive one of the three authorized COVID vaccines.  Tennessee’s Health Department opened the vaccine to all Tennessee adults (16+) April 5.    Hamilton County’s Health Department allowed for residents 16 years and older to receive the vaccine March 26.  These vaccines include the Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.

Many have held out hope that the vaccines will be the key to reducing Coronavirus cases enough to reopen the community, including schools. While the Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines are only available to those ages 18 and older and may not do much to help in the reopening of schools, the Pfizer vaccine is open to those 16 and up. The Pfizer vaccine may be the key to opening up high schools fully, as a majority of high school students are eligible for the vaccine.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine are given out in two dosages. Many high school students, including a few at Central High School, have already received their first or both doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

When asked if he would recommend the vaccine to other students, Junior Karl Moore explained “If they feel comfortable, then yeah.” Moore received the Pfizer vaccine and is hopeful about its ability to protect recipients from the Coronavirus.

Some students and parents disagree with the information given about the vaccine and refuse to receive it. However, many argue against this, as they believe that getting the vaccine will help prevent the Coronavirus from spreading and it can keep people of all ages safer and better protected from the virus.

“I’d want to get vaccinated so I could keep the high risk/elderly safe and help the world go back to normal,” explained Senior Deja Hawkins. Hawkins has not yet been vaccinated, but plans to receive her first dose before she attends college next fall.

While there are many contradictory opinions held on the vaccines’ effectiveness, most Central students and faculty have come together to agree that the vaccine is a primary method to help begin the transition back into normalcy.

Students and those who have inquiries about the effects of the vaccine should visit the CDC’s Coronavirus website. Those who wish to be vaccinated can find available vaccines at their nearest pharmacy or through the Tennesse Health Department.