|
 Chicago Public Schools are canceling classes Nov. 12,
encouraging parents and students to use the day off to get vaccinated against
COVID-19.
Maybe in-school vaccination clinics at a later date would be more effective than
giving parents a week’s notice that they needed to arrange child care or take
off work to seek shots that are not yet widely available for the younger
children?
“CVS can’t take all the Chicago Public Schools kids in one day,” said Karen
Jakacki Gonzales of Jefferson Park, who has two kids in CPS elementary schools.
“If CPS had offered on-campus vaccine clinics, it could have better served the
students rather than being like, ‘Hey, we’re giving you a day off to go find a
vaccine that’s in limited supply that your family, if you get an appointment,
may have to travel a considerable distance to go get to that appointment.”
CVS currently doesn’t offer appointments for kids ages 5-11 as they just became
eligible Nov. 2 to get their COVID-19 shots. Walgreens doesn’t have any
appointments available until Nov. 15, after CPS students’ day off.
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And good luck getting in to a pediatrician with a
week’s notice, plus competing with other Chicago youngsters seeking
shots on that same day.
New York City’s public schools are offering shots
on-campus during their vaccination day next week.
“Vaccination Awareness Day on Friday, Nov. 12, is an opportunity for
parents and guardians to take their children five years of age and
older to get vaccinated at their pediatrician’s office, at a health
care provider, or at a CPS school-based site or community
vaccination event,” said Pedro Martinez, CPS CEO.
According to city data, nearly 60% of Chicago children ages 12-17
are vaccinated. That group’s been eligible for vaccination since the
spring.
In addition to Vaccination Awareness Day, CPS had no class Nov. 5
for an institute day, no class Nov. 11 for Veterans Day, and three
more days off for Thanksgiving. |
