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San Diego pop-up COVID clinics aim to vaccinate high school students

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SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - In an effort to get San Diego’s younger population vaccinated, both Sharp HealthCare and UC San Diego Health are hosting pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics at various high schools around the county this week.

The vaccination sites kick off on Monday, May 10, and will continue through the next few weeks with the goal of getting eligible local students vaccinated before leaving for summer vacation.

Currently, those age 16 and older are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, and the FDA is expected to expand the authorization to 12 and older this upcoming week.

Details on Sharp HealthCare’s clinics:

All hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

For these Sharp locations, anyone older than 18 can schedule an appointment or walk-in. The clinic is open to the community, staff, families and students.

Appointments are encouraged but not required and can be made here:

Details on UC San Diego Health’s clinics:

All hours are 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. (UCSD will be onsite for set up 7 a.m. or sooner)

The UCSD sites are walk-in only and open to the community, staff, families and students.

On Monday morning, Mayte Valderas and her mother were among a group of people who received a vaccine at Hoover High. Both were hesitant to get the vaccine, but Valderas -- a Hoover High alum -- told ABC 10News that having a clinic in their neighborhood made the decision easier, and it’s something she believes many families can relate to.

“There’s a lot of first-generation students that come here and a lot of their parents don't speak their language. It's nice to see moms and dads with their children here being able have their questions answered, allowing them to get the vaccine in their community; it's so close to home,” said Valderas.

Hoover High senior Yvania Rubio said while many of her peers are still hesitant to get a vaccine, she feels having a vaccination site right on campus will change people’s minds.

"That connection, not only with my community, my school, and with myself. Just knowing this is something we have to do," Yvania said.

The Grossmont Union High School District also released vaccination opportunities. There will be first dose appointments available at El Cajon Valley High School (located at 1035 E Madison Ave.) Sat., May 22 from 3 to 6:30 p.m. and Mon., May 24 from 1:30 to 5 p.m.

The second dose appointments will be at the same location Sat. June 12 from 3 to 6:30 p.m. and Mon., June 14 from 1:30 to 5 p.m.

The El Cajon Valley High School event is limited to GUHSD students, staff, and family. To attend the ECVHS event, sign-up here by May 18 to ensure enough vaccines are ordered. You will not need an appointment.

This push comes as Vaccination Super Stations across the county are reporting a major drop in people getting vaccinated, so they're directing efforts away from mass vaccination sites and more toward smaller, community-driven locations.

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The county also just launched a new program that allows large groups of people, including businesses and churches, to request a pop-up vaccine site come to them.