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Talk about a curve ball.
The Northeast District Department of Health had been working on plans to vaccinate schools months ago. Then the governor announced Feb. 22 that teachers and school personnel would be eligible in a week.
But the district was ready.
“This is an exciting time, and we are so pleased to be able to complete our plans to vaccinate our schools,” said NDDH Director of Health Sue Starkey. “We began our vaccination planning months ago. As soon as we learned of the governor’s announcement on Feb. 22, we developed a comprehensive community school plan within the span of one week. Thanks to our planning and vaccination teams, Medical Reserve Corps volunteers, and community partnerships, there is a real chance of completing this important initiative by the third week of March. Vaccine supply is the most critical component of our planning and these lofty goals.”
It’s a Herculean task: In addition to planning for the rest of the region, the district is coordinating COVID-19 vaccinations for all newly eligible pre-K through grade 12 school personnel who work onsite with students, as well as licensed childcare professionals during the month of March. Anyone school related who has contact with students is eligible, i.e. bus drivers. That’s a total of 3,400 eligible individuals from 12 school districts and 41 schools, including EASTCONN.
NDDH will partner with Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH) to vaccinate certain schools and collaborate on larger schools if the need arises.
Vaccinations began March 2 and more schools are planned for March 7 and 14.
NDDH is also working with more than 71 licensed daycare providers to ensure that they have access to vaccine in March. All this happens as a new eligibility phase opened in Connecticut on March 1 to state residents and employees who are 55 and older. Previously eligible phases will also continue to be vaccinated.
Vaccines
The vaccination clinics hinge, of course, on the availability of vaccines.
The new Johnson & Johnson vaccine was approved Feb. 27. This vaccine is a single dose and needs only refrigeration. If vaccine allocation is delivered as planned, NDDH and DKH will be positioned to administer the two-dose Moderna and one-dose J&J vaccine at school clinics.
NDDH will also continue to serve phase eligible individuals at their Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) clinic, held at the Quinebaug Valley Senior Citizens Center, 69 South Main St. in Brooklyn. To assist in the community effort from yet another angle, Generations Family Health Center will add general appointment slots in their VAMS scheduling platform to allow NDDH and DKH to focus on the school and childcare vaccination campaign. Vaccine supply is also expanding to retail pharmacies such as Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart.
“To best support the planning effort, we encourage all school and childcare personnel to be vaccinated at their scheduled clinic,” said NDDH Education and Communications Coordinator Linda Colangelo. “Educators have been extremely patient, and we understand their desire to be vaccinated as soon as possible. At the same time, we are still trying to vaccinate older adults who are most at risk.”
Colangelo said having educators vaccinated at their school-based clinics, allows other eligible individuals in the community the opportunity to access vaccination at pharmacies, healthcare systems, and VAMS clinic providers.
NDDH and DKH will arrive at school clinics with vaccine doses to match the projected numbers of vaccine recipients provided by school officials. If educators seek out other vaccine options ahead of time and then cancel or do not show at their scheduled clinic, it could leave vaccine providers scrambling to prevent the doses from going to waste.
“If you take a public slot at a VAMS clinic or pharmacy, you are taking a dose away from a person who does not have the same opportunity as you do — a guaranteed appointment at your school clinic,” she said. We have all worked hard to make getting vaccinated as efficient as possible for educators and support staff, so we sincerely hope they will partner with us to achieve the best outcomes for everyone.”
“Monday’s new phase opens to upwards of 600,000 individuals, Starkey added. “The message remains the same. Be patient. Wait your turn, then take your turn…and don’t turn your back on what works…wear your mask, watch your distance, wash your hands, avoid gatherings and stay home when you’re sick.”
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