A North Texas high school senior is leading immunization education in his county.
Seventeen-year-old Farhan Ahmad is heading up a group of public health leaders and doctors as the new chair of the Denton County Immunization Coalition.
"I can't give a shot because I'm not qualified to do that, but I am able to spread the message about it," he said.
Ahmad gained passion for the issue in middle school after working with refugees.
"I saw that there were people suffering, and their lives were much different than mine was," he said.
Ahmad went to Denton County health department and joined the coalition, a group that educates people about vaccinations and works to make sure everyone has access to shots.
"So I said, 'Why can't I start now? There's no reason that I can't start now,'" he said.
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The teenager was "just an average Joe Citizen" who decided he wanted to help, Denton County Public Health spokeswoman Sarah McKinney said.
"He's very poised, very mature," she said. "You would never guess he's in high school."
After a few years as a volunteer, Ahmad became the group's new leader.
"He's fabulous, he's fabulous, and here's a child that plans to be a premed student," longtime member Dr. Wallace Nichols said.
NBC 5's Brian Scott contributed to this report.
