FORT WORTH (1080 KRLD)- School districts are now planning for the approval of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for kids as young as five years old. An FDA panel has approved the vaccine, and full approval could come as soon as next week.
Wednesday, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley had a conference call with superintendents to begin planning for the roll-out.
"We are partners in this," says Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Kent Scribner. "In this pandemic, we all have to pull together so we can navigate our way through it. We've had a tremendous with Tarrant County. We've been working very closely with them throughout the pandemic."
Scribner says the district's focus on social distancing, increased cleanliness, ventilation and hand-washing will continue. He says the availability of the vaccine for kids as young as five will provide another tool.
"We certainly are not going to be mandating, but we believe vaccines are yet another layer of protection," he says.
Scribner says work will continue with Whitley, Tarrant County Health Director Vinny Taneja and the City of Fort Worth on logistics to vaccinate kids quickly once it becomes available. He says they may start with hubs or drive-thrus similar to when the vaccine was first approved for adults.
"We want to do this right. There will be a limited supply at the outset just like in previous scenarios," Scribner says. "We want to do this in a well-organized and logistically sound way."
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