Seattle Public Schools opens 54 student COVID vaccine clinics
Nov 8, 2021, 11:40 AM
(Photo by Marcelo Hernandez/Getty Images)
Seattle Public Schools, in partnership with Public Health — Seattle & King County, announced that it will open 40 in-school and 14 regional COVID student vaccine clinics across the city for children age 5 and older.
First dose clinics will open Nov. 8 and run through Nov. 23. Second doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine will become available Nov. 29 through Dec. 14.
Shots can be administered with or without a parent’s attendance, given the requisite consent forms. Neither insurance nor payment are required.
EXPLAINER: What to know about vaccines for kids aged 5-11
Students are welcome to make use of the clinic at which they attend class.
SPS has set the standard for COVID vaccination in recent months, reporting that nearly all of its full time staff have received the vaccine.
As of Nov. 8, a COVID vaccine is not among those immunizations required for SPS students. In October, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal made clear that the vaccine might be required once the vaccine surpasses emergency authorization and becomes fully authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for children ages 5-11.
The SPS board is expected to consider a resolution which would advocate for a statewide student COVID mandate in its meeting on Nov. 17. They delayed consideration earlier in November, citing need to improve community engagement before handing down a formal request for a mandate.
If approved, the resolution would “begin review of the COVID-19 vaccination for addition to the list of immunizations that students must receive before attending school.”