In Connecticut, Teens Confront Vaccine Hesitancy With Information And Patience

Antonia Capizza distributes COVID-19 vaccination information in a Waterbury neighborhood. (Tyler Russell/Connecticut Public)

Lately, Elise Taylor is logging 10,000 steps a day, a lot of them on hills and up to front doors in Waterbury, CT to ask if residents are interested in taking the COVID-19 vaccine.

On an overcast Friday in July, most knocks go unanswered. But when she sees a sign of life, a woman comes to the door and tells Taylor that she’s already gotten her vaccine.

Taylor responds with glee, “Oh great! I think we left an information flyer right at your door, so if you do know anyone who’s not vaccinated, you can share it with them? Thank you!”

As she walks back down the steps, she says, “That’s how it’s done.” And she’s off to the next door with a handful of flyers.

A special grant is giving these teens a very “COVID” kind of summer job: They’re going door-to-door to sign up residents for the vaccine. Just under half the population is unvaccinated in Waterbury, creating a challenge and an opportunity.

Click here for the full story from Connecticut Public Radio.