ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI (KMOX) - After ongoing pleas to be vaccinated against SARS CoV-2, teachers, staff and administrators of St. Louis Public Schools will finally begin getting their shots on Monday, March 15. SLPS, along with the Missouri National Guard and the Urban League of Greater St. Louis are coordination to inoculate 2,000 employees throughout the week. The vaccination clinic will be in the gym and Vashon High School in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood.
SLPS says they are administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is a single dose and provides effectiveness in two weeks or less. The shots proved an 85% efficacy against COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, meaning no one who received the shot in clinical trials ever needed to be hospitalized, and no one died. While vaccine manufacturers believe inoculation is vital to reopening schools and businesses, they remind people it does NOT prevent SARS CoV-2 infection. People exposed to the virus can still transmit it, although they are unlikely to suffer serious symptoms.
Here's more from the statement by St. Louis Public Schools:
"All appointments have been made and, over the course of four days, March 15, 16, 18, 19 (starting at 9 a.m. every day except Wednesday), educators will have access to the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine by Johnson & Johnson through a temporary clinic established in the Vashon High School (3035 Cass Ave.) gymnasium. Vashon students studying in-person will temporarily return to virtual learning for the week.According to SLPS Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams, the District has also extended an invitation to area educators from charter, private and parochial schools. “Gaining access to the COVID-19 vaccine has been a top priority for our District. Now, through our partnerships with the Urban League and the Army National Guard, we are pleased to be able to offer this measure of protection for our staff and the greater community of educators in the interest of increasing the safety of all staff and students.”The District is also appreciative of the efforts of Walmart in providing additional vaccine support for SLPS staff."
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