Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Nurse Stephanie Sturdevant administers a first dose Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine shot to Taylor Brennan at Warren Area High School.

The Warren County School District and Warren General Hospital got together to offer COVID-19 vaccines to students.

On Tuesday, Warren General set up a clinic of Pfizer vaccine on the stage at Warren Area High School. The Pfizer vaccine is the only one so far that has been approved for use in people under 18.

About 90 students ages 16 and over from all over the district signed up.

Students from Sheffield, Youngsville, and Eisenhower were bused to Warren for the clinic.

Dr. Keith Price and nurses Sarah Amsdell, Stephanie Sturdevant, and Mark Woody, volunteered to administer the shots, representing Warren General and other entities.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Holden Creal receives his first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from Dr. Keith Price at Warren Area High School.

Emergycare had personnel in the auditorium in case of any significant reactions. The Warren County Department of Public Safety was also on site.

Students reported to the stage, signed in, filled out some paperwork, then went to get their shots.

Afterwards, they were required to remain in the auditorium for 15 minutes. Then, it was back to their regularly scheduled school day.

Their reasons for getting the shot were varied.

“I spend a lot of time around my grandparents,” Joseph Letko said. “And, I’m required for college.”

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Nurse Mark Woody administers a first dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to Chris Gardiner at Warren Area High School.

Like his brother, Josh Letko said it was about protecting others, like his grandparents, more than himself.

“My grandma wanted me to get vaccinated,” Chris Gardiner said.

It wasn’t too much to ask. “I barely noticed the needle go into my arm,” he said.

“I want to travel,” Taylor Brennan said. “I have a friend who just moved to Washington state. I want to fly there and see her.”

She would also like to visit family in New York City.

“I miss going outside and not having to worry about getting sick,” Brennan said.

She was nervous about getting the shot, she said, but didn’t notice any immediate side-effects.

Holden Creal wanted to make sure he could continue participating in school activities, including the track team. “A lot of my friends have been quarantined,” he said.

With the end of the track season coming up, as well as prom, he wanted to get out from the threat of two weeks of quarantine.

Emma Ruhlman expressed a combination of quarantine-, family-, and sports-related concerns.

“I’m big into basketball,” Ruhlman said. “In the spring and summer I travel a lot. I figured it would be safest for my family if I got it.”

Quarantine? “It’s going to be very nice not worrying about that any more,” she said.

The students will not be fully protected until they return for their second shots in about three weeks.

On Monday, the FDA approved Pfizer for ages 12 and up. But, it was not in time for the clinic. The doses taken to the clinic were already spoken for and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had not made a formal ruling.

The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is expected to meet Wednesday to discuss and possibly announce a recommendation.