LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After earning international recognition for their efforts to connect seniors with the COVID-19 vaccine, two Kentucky teens are encouraging their peers to get the shot.  

In January, Spectrum News 1 shared the story of high schoolers Amelie Beck and Jacqueline Teague, who had recently launched an effort called "VaxConnectKY" to help seniors make COVID-19 vaccine appointments. 

Cousins Amelie Beck and Jacqueline Teague launched an effort to help seniors sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine. (Jacqueline Teague)

"At this point, we have gotten I think a little over 2,000 people vaccinated, just by either giving them a template or walking them through the whole process on the phone," Teague told Spectrum News 1 this month. 

The two cousins, who are students on the swim team at Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, fielded phone calls and put together a template to walk patients through the process.

Then, word of their work spread, reaching Harry, the Duke of Sussex.

“Jacqueline, who’s from Louisville, Kentucky, launched a campaign called VaxConnectKY after seeing her grandparents struggle to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine," Prince Harry said in an online video. 

In a virtual ceremony, Teague accepted the Diana Award, which recognizes humanitarian efforts by exceptional young people. 

"I think it’s unbelievable," said Teague. "Amelie and I, you know, in the beginning it was smaller numbers and kind of like family members and family friends and to see it have snowballed into this huge number of people that we’ve helped and to be recognized on a global scale by Harry is, it’s just insane."

Teague, 17, is vaccinated and so is Beck, who said she received her shot as a 14-year-old participant of the Pfizer trial. 

Louisville high school student Amelie Beck participated in the Pfizer trial for the 12-15 age group. (Amelie Beck)

"I said, 'Yes, definitely,' because I do have a high-risk family member and to be able to get the vaccine was just a blessing and to be able to participate and make it more accessible to the 12-15 age group was really, really amazing and I’m so glad I was able to participate in it."

The teens now plan to assist others in making booster shot appointments and are promoting an upcoming virtual town hall on vaccines for their peers. 

"I would just say, trust the science and trust the researchers and the scientists who have been working on this nonstop for a very long time," said Beck. 

The virtual town hall is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. EST.