SHELBYVILLE, Ky. — As Kentucky continues to roll out and ramp up its vaccine efforts, school districts across the Commonwealth are also developing their plans.

Shelby County Public Schools parent Carrie Vail told Spectrum News 1, "we see it as an easy step to protect both our family and other people."

The push continues for more young people to get vaccinated both to slow down the spread and to add an extra layer of protection for the health of teens and their families.

"With the new strains and things coming in they couldn’t see grandparents for a year cause it could be fatal for my parents because of health conditions," Vail said.

Carrie Vail was eager to vaccinate both of her twin teenage daughters after a recent COVID-19 scare. This decision, she said, was a no-brainer.

"Well we actually all six had it in December and so we went through multiple social isolations with that cause we pulled the kids inside from playing outside for a couple weeks," Vail said.

Ashlee Vail is 13 years old. For her, getting the vaccine means protecting her loved ones who are at high risk and her friends.

"Honestly, because I wanted to not wear my mask cause they’re uncomfortable and also because I wanted to be around all my friends and I didn’t want to make them sick and keep them safe," Ashlee said.

As the school year gets ready to wrap up and the vaccine rollout continues, the North Central District Health Department and Shelby County Public Schools joined forces to encourage as many kids and teenagers in the county to get vaccinated.

Traci Earley, District Health Coordinator for Shelby County Public Schools told Spectrum News 1, "students never like getting the needle so they never like their shots, but they’re willing to get it because they’re tired of wearing masks, they’re tired of socially distancing, they're tired of being quarantined.

With parental consent, a drive thru COVID-19 vaccination clinic at West Middle School is offering inoculations to newly eligible age groups including 12 to 15-year-olds and their families.

Earley is hoping this event will mark a big step toward a return to normalcy.

"Getting back to a normal school year can’t happen until we have more people are vaccinated," Earley said.

It was a shot of relief for sixth grader Gretchen Gayle, who said the last year has been tough.

"I don’t want to have to keep wearing the masks and have to keep doing all the guidelines in school. I want it to go back to normal again," Gayle said.

Isabella Carrasco is 14-years-old and showed up with her mom to the vaccination site for a dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

This teenager – like many others – isn't a fan of needles, but she wanted the protection from the deadly virus.

"I just don’t like needles in general so that’s why I was over here having the anxiety," Carrasco said.

For Isabella, the reason she chose to be vaccinated is simple. "I want to be able to be safe around other people so that I don’t spread it and I don’t get it," she said.

In the meantime, heath professionals say vaccinating the nation’s pre-teens and teenagers is paramount in reaching herd immunity.

"Having more people that you have that’s vaccinated that have that immunity the more you’re protecting everyone. So, hopefully we get enough people vaccinated that those who choose not to get it right now were protecting them also," Earley said.

Through a partnership with the North Central District Health Department, Henry County Public Schools, Spencer County Public Schools and Eminence Independent Schools will each host vaccine clinics on Friday May 21.