JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Duval County Public Schools students and members of the general public will be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine on school grounds over a series of dates throughout the next month.
On Thursday, the district announced that five schools would serve as vaccination sites for anyone age 12 or older.
The schools offering vaccines are:
- Mandarin High School (First dose: June 28, second dose: July 19)
- Fletcher Middle School (First dose: June 29, second dose: July 20)
- Westside High School (First dose: June 30, second dose: July 21)
- Andrew Jackson High School (First dose: July 7, second dose: July 28)
- First Coast High School (first dose: July 8, second dose: July 29)
Individuals under the age of 18 may attend without a parent or guardian, but a signed consent form and photo ID are required. Consent forms are available on the district website, duvalschools.org. The clinics will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
According to Superintendent Diana Greene, the plan is to keep the vaccine sites going when school opens in the fall and to eventually offer vaccines at every district middle and high school.
"Our goal is that every secondary school will offer vaccinations, whether it's a mobile vaccination or a clinic at the school," she said at a press conference Monday. The clinics are made possible through a partnership between Duval County Public Schools and the Duval County Florida Health Department branch.
Greene listed upcoming vaccine opportunities while explaining the school reopening plan to School Board members at a workshop meeting last month. In addition to the five high school sites, she mentioned a "Back to School Clinic" that would provide vaccines during the school day which is tentatively scheduled for the first week of school. Additional details were not immediately available.
Duval Schools held one-day vaccine site last month
This isn't the first time Duval Schools has offered vaccinations to students.
Last month, the district hosted a one-day vaccine site at the Sandalwood High School gymnasium. According to the district, 468 students received the first dose of Pfizer vaccine that day and their second dose on June 5. Pfizer is the only vaccine offered to people younger than 18.
COVID-19 vaccinations are not a required immunization in Florida public schools and the clinics are completely optional. Still, health experts say it's important for young people to get inoculated once they're eligible for the vaccine — not only to protect them from the coronavirus but from serious conditions associated with COVID-19 that are impacting children.
The school district announced an added incentive for people who come out to clinics and get vaccinated — gift cards. "The Florida Department of Health – Duval will be providing $10 grocery vouchers to each individual that receives a COVID-19 vaccine," a news release said.
"Our hope is that we're going to get as many students vaccinated that meet the criteria," Greene said.
Emily Bloch is an education reporter for The Florida Times-Union. Follow her on Twitter or email her.
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