Orlando nightclub offers ‘Shot for Shot’ to help promote COVID-19 vaccines for young adults

ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orlando nightclub is hosting a vaccination site aimed at protecting hospitality and live entertainment workers.

The “Shot for Shot” event is particularly focused on young adults, an age group that so far hasn’t jumped at the chance to get vaccinated.

An Orange County Commissioner actually suggested whether a “Shot for Shot” event could help get more younger adults vaccinated a couple weeks ago.

Watch: ‘Part of the process:’ What Johnson & Johnson’s COVID vaccine issues mean for Florida’s supply

On Monday, that exactly what’s set to happen.

Due to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “Seniors First” policy, visits to vaccination sites were dominated by older adults.

That changed this week as the state opened to residents age 18 and older. But there wasn’t much of a change as some health officials would’ve liked to see.

With supply increasing in Seminole and others counties, they had open appointments Friday and throughout the weekend.

Watch: Orange County Convention Center vaccine site to close at the end of May, focus shifts to mobile pods

Some in the hospitality and live entertainment industry worry this low acceptance rate from younger people will leave their workers and industry vulnerable to the continued spread of COVID-19.

State data shows those ages 16 to 34 have been responsible for the biggest increases in cases over the past month.

Infectious disease experts want to remind them that even if they catch COVID-19 and don’t get sick, they are still giving the virus more opportunities to mutate.

There are already many signs that the most dominant COVID-19 strain now in the U.S., B-1-17, is leading to more severe illness, hospitalization and death in younger people than the original strain.

Read: Pfizer petitions FDA for approval to use COVID-19 vaccine on 12- to 15-year-old children

The vaccines will also potentially be less effective against other strains.

Anyone eligible for a vaccine and also looking for a free drink card can visit The Beacham starting at 4 p.m. on Monday.

Click here for more information and learn how to register.

Cox Media Group