NEWARK, N.J. (1010 WINS) — New Jersey's largest school district, Newark Pubic Schools, began offering COVID-19 vaccines during the first day of school Tuesday.
In the ramp-up to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's vaccine mandate ordering immunizations for all private and public school employees — or continued regular testing — NJ.com reports school vaccine sites opened across the district in conjunction with Newark, the city's health department and Essex County.
"The biggest thing that will be new is all of our schools will in fact be vaccination sites," said Superintendent Roger Léon.
The operation comes as the school district reopens for full-time, in-person learning for its 400,000 students and as Newark attempts to boost vaccine levels for its students and school employees.
Léon said that while 45% of students ages 12 and older have been vaccinated, according to NJ.com, Newark Public Schools spokesperson Nancy Deering said that while student vaccines are "encouraged" — they are not mandatory.
As of Tuesday, The NJ Department of Health reported there have been more than 281 school outbreaks, more than 1,000 cases linked to school outbreaks.
District parents will sign a consent form for their children to be vaccinated onsite.
Deering said to NJ.com that there is no limit to the number of those they hope to immunize at these locations.
"I think they have to see how it goes and make adjustments accordingly," she said.
