The Vax Global concert, organized by Global Citizen, was held last month to promote the worldwide vaccination movement. Since then, it has reminded Harrisites of the importance of vaccinations in restoring a sense of normalcy.
Hosted by Selena Gomez out in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on May 2, the Vax Global Concert featured various musicians, artists, and frontline workers coming together to inform the public about the importance of getting vaccinated and to encourage philanthropists and world leaders to increase funding and awareness for COVID-19 vaccinations.
The show seated fully vaccinated and masked individuals without social distancing to demonstrate how important vaccines are and show that they could ultimately unite people. As freshman Zarah Masud said, “the concert is one step back to normalcy.”
A number of celebrities presented and performed at the event, including Jennifer Lopez, Henry David, and Chrissy Teigen. The concert raised a total of $302 million dollars, which will be used for vaccine delivery, testing, and other proposed reasons as part of the COVAX initiative.
The event informed its viewers with facts about the vaccinations and advocated for solutions to third world countries’ COVID crises. As a direct response to India’s severe second wave of COVID, the Vax Global Concert amplified the need to provide more vaccinations to the alarming shortages in third-world nations all around the world.
The concert also sought to emphasize the importance of donations in facilitating vaccine distribution and administration so that more people can be inoculated. Sophomore JK Rajjo said she thinks the concert will also be beneficial “as it seeks to bring hope for people that there will be equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.”
“The more people that get vaccinated, the more we can relax our restrictions and life can return to more of a sense of normal without fear of future outbreaks or variants,” said humanities teacher Sarah Levine.
In the Townsend Harris community, many teachers and students have been vaccinated. AP World History teacher Blayne Gelbman said, “It seems that the only way we as a society can move forward is if we as a society choose science.” Junior Alyanah Piedal agreed, and said, “Anyone who is eligible should get one as it is a step towards normalcy and the general health and safety of the public.”
On May 10, the Food and Drug Administration declared that the Pfizer COVID vaccine can be administered to children ages 12-15 as well, which will enable all the students at Townsend Harris High School to receive the vaccine. Zarah said, “I will definitely get it as soon as possible because I want my family members to be safe.”
