Arizona state-run clinic begins vaccinating 12-15 year olds

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Yuma state-run COVID-19 vaccination site opened it's doors Thursday morning to children 12-15 years old.

The Yuma Civic Center's state-supported POD site changed it's hours of operation this week to Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Families are expected to line up to get their 12-15 year old vaccinated, including one local Yuma family.

Sandra Navarrette says she is taking her two daughters, 13 & 15-years-old to get the vaccine after school. Her other daughter who is 17-years-old already got the vaccine also.

“They had a say in if they wanted to get vaccinated. I gave them research. They obviously have TikTok and their own way of researching stuff, and they want to go back to pre-COVID times. They understand it is the only way to do that is by getting vaccinated.”

This opening comes the same day the CDC released new guidance that those who are vaccinated are no longer required to wear masks indoor or outdoors.

Several vaccinated Yuma locals still believe people should wear the mask.

“It’s not over, and I mean you have these other variants out there so I can see maybe you know not wearing them if you’re seated at a table in a restaurant, but if you get up yeah you have to wear them.” says Peggy Hankins, a Yuma local.

Another Yuma local Kelsey Peary says, "I’m fully vaccinated and I feel it’s appropriate to wear a mask when I’m around other people outside of my household. So I plan on continuing to do so."

However there were those that were some locals glad to hear the news. Ed Shipman says, "You don’t have to wear a mask anymore when you go out is tremendous. That’s the way to go. It’s ridiculous you have to put a mask on go inside a restaurant take it off to eat, and put it back on before you leave.”