COVID vaccination events scheduled in three APSD high schools

Students in Avoyelles Parish public schools who are at least 12 years old will have an opportunity to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus and receive $100 from the state.

The effort to increase the percentage of teens and pre-teens who are immunized against the virus is sponsored by the Avoyelles Sleeves Up nonprofit, the Louisiana National Guard , the Avoyelles Parish School District, the Office of Public Health regional and parish offices and the parish Office of Emergency Preparedness, Avoyelles Sleeves Up project coordinator Liz Leger said.

Leger said she is looking forward to working with educators in the public schools and thanked district officials and the School Board for "putting children first and really making a great effort to keep students healthy and to keep schools opened."

Avoyelles Coroner Dr. James Bordelon will lead the effort to vaccinate students aged 12 and older. Bordelon encourages all parents to give careful and serious consideration to vaccinating their children.

The immunizations will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on three days this month. The first will be next Friday (Oct. 22) at Marksville High, the second will be the next Tuesday (Oct. 26) at Bunkie Magnet High and the last one will be the next day (Oct. 27) at Avoyelles High.

The three vaccination clinics are participating in the state's Shot for 100 incentive program which gives previously unvaccinated individuals -- including children -- a $100 Visa card when they get their first COVID shot.

The card will be given to students at the school along with instructions and support on how to load the $100 award onto the card.

The vaccination incentive program ends Oct. 30. It is only available for first-time vaccinations and only at the National Guard-operated immunization events.

SAFE, EFFECTIVE, FREE

The vaccine is safe, very effective and free. The student will not need an ID or appointment.

The Pfizer vaccine is the only one authorized for children ages 12 to 17. Pfizer is a two-dose vaccine, which means the students must take their second shot in three weeks.

The National Guard medic teams will return to the schools at that time to administer the second dose.

APSD Superintendent Karen Tutor and Assistant Superintendent Thelma Prater have both worked with all parties to develop the in-school vaccination plan.

The School Board recently adopted a resolution to partner with Avoyelles Sleeves Up on the vaccination effort, which Tutor said will keep the district's students healthy. She said she and all district and school staff will do everything possible to make the project successful.

Prater said she is looking forward to working with the partners on the vaccination effort and hopes parents "will take advantage of this great opportunity to keep their children safe and healthy so schools can stay open and so children can thrive in the school environment."

Permission slips will be sent home within the next week. Parents must give written permission for their child to be vaccinated. Students who seek to be vaccinated but have not turned in their permission slip cannot be immunized. Parents should be on the lookout for those permission slips and call their child's school if they have not received it.

The slips will contain a phone number that parents can call if they have questions or concerns about the vaccination program.