A vaccine clinic for high school students?
Darien BOE members eye partnering with the town
DARIEN — As COVID cases forced the high school to again switch to remote learning Thursday, the district is considering coordinating with the town to offer a vaccination clinic for interested students next month.
During this week’s Board of Education meeting, board member Katie Stein asked if the district had considered approaching the town’s Department of Heath to coordinate vaccinations for students 16 and older who are interested once they become eligible April 1.
The district’s director of nursing, Alicia Casucci, said school systems had been encouraged to pursue vaccinating high school students in towns where those resources were available once that age group becomes eligible.
“The problem is the age restriction for vaccine leaves most students not eligible. However, some protection is better than none.” David Knauf, Darien health director
Casucci said the district plans to work with the town’s health department, which has been conducting vaccine clinics. However, Casucci said any arrangements would depend on the availability of vaccine and the demand.
“If we can do it, I will see if we can try to set that up with the health department. But there will be a lot of people who want the vaccine and I don’t know if they will make that a priority group,” Casucci said.
Board member Debra Ritchie asked how getting the vaccine affects the need to quarantine.
Casucci said two weeks after the second dose or the single dose for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine means those who are inoculated no longer needs to quarantine. Teachers are due for their second doses early next month after the town held a clinic for their first shot. Casucci said the district has some students who are emergency responders for Darien EMS Post 53 and do not need to quarantine because they have been vaccinated.
First Selectman Jayme Stevenson and Darien Health Director David Knauf supported the idea of a student vaccination clinic.
Knauf said the town would “absolutely” support the concept of a clinic for high school students who are 16 and older.
Knauf pointed to Gov.
Ned Lamont’s office indicating Connecticut’s vaccine supply will outpace demand in May as an opportunity to vaccinate older students who are interested.
“The problem is the age restriction for vaccine leaves most students not eligible,” Knauf said. “However,
some protection is better than none.”
Stevenson said “if the school wished us to host a student clinic and we had enough appropriatefor–students vaccine supply, I think this would be a wonderful service to offer on a voluntary basis, with parent support.”