With the PfizerBioNTech COVID-19 vaccine being authorized for use in children aged 5 to 11, the St. Paul Public School District has announced that they will be partnering with Ramsey County Public Health to offer vaccine clinics to the newly eligible group.
The school district will have the clinics at two elementary school sites, Como Park Elementary on Nov. 15, 22, and 29, from 3 to 6 p.m., and Battle Creek Elementary on Nov. 16, 23, and 30 from 3 to 6 p.m. Children in the age range can come out to get their first dose at those times.
"Approval of the vaccine for this age group is a game-changer for SPPS and our efforts to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on our students, staff, and community," Superintendent Joe Gothard said in a statement.
The school district is one of the first within the state to lay out a plan that will provide vaccines for children aged 5 to 11.
Walgreens and CVS have started accepting appointments for children within the age range to get their first shots, starting as soon as Saturday at select locations nationwide.
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As for St. Paul Public Schools, Mary Langworthy, the district's Director of Health and Wellness, shared in a press conference that the plan to offer shots makes sense for students and their families.
"For many of our families, it's an opportunity for us to improve access to the vaccine," Langworthy said.
Langworthy continued saying they are offering the clinics "for our families that don't have a regular clinic, don't have transportation, or really truly are unaware of where to go. Offering the vaccine within our schools is a local and familiar option for families to bring their children."
There are roughly 17,000 students in the district between the ages of 5 and 11 who are newly eligible for the vaccine.
The clinics will be by appointment, and parents who would like to schedule a time for their child to get the shot can do so through the SPPS portal and at ramseycounty.us/COVIDvaccine.
Other districts within the state are expected to emerge with their plans soon. The governor and health officials are expected to put out a statewide plan on administering the shot for children this afternoon.
