South Fairfax News

City Of Fairfax issued the following announcement on May. 23. 

While COVID-19 vaccine is now widely available throughout the Fairfax Health District, the Fairfax County Health Department is partnering with Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to provide vaccination opportunities to students aged 12 to 18 years of age at several high school locations.

The health department and FCPS will host vaccination clinics from May 25 through June 10, and will be providing the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which was recently granted Emergency Use Authorization for 12- to 15-year-olds.

Letters informing students about the opportunity have been sent to FCPS families in grades seven through 12.

Parents Must Register Child by May 20 to Participate 

Students who sign up for a vaccination through the school-based clinics will receive vaccine during the school day. Parents/guardians must register their students for their vaccination with the Health Department and complete consent forms by Thursday, May 20. Parents can register and sign consents for their child by visiting  https://redcap.link/FCPSvax. Parent liaisons are working with families who need assistance completing the registration and pre-vaccination questionnaire.

Transportation to School-Based Clinics Provided 

• Transportation to and from the vaccination clinic will be provided to all students from their base school.
• Virtual students will need to be dropped off and picked up at the base school.
• In-person (face-to-face) students will participate in their normal daily schedule before and after the appointment and will still ride their normal bus to and from school for the day.
• Appointments will be scheduled between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

“This is a great opportunity for families who have not yet signed their child up for a vaccine appointment to take advantage of a school-based clinic,” said Assistant Director of School Health Services Robin Wallin, who works for the Fairfax County Health Department. “We encourage everyone 12 years of age and older to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. Vaccinating children in this age group is a critical step towards the goal of keeping schools a healthy place to learn.”

The following school-based clinics are scheduled:

• Tuesday, May 25, Bryant High School
• Wednesday, May 26, Langley High School
• Thursday, May 27, Annandale High School
• Friday, May 28, Mount Vernon High School

The health department is working with FCPS to identify additional sites and will announce those soon.

In addition to this partnership with FCPS, the health department is also providing school-based vaccination clinics for students who attend Falls Church City Public Schools on Friday, May 21, and Friday, June 11.

Parents can also take advantage of vaccine providers in the community. Many pediatricians and family doctors’ offices are providing vaccine to their patients. In addition, there are many opportunities to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Fairfax, including other private health care providers, urgent care facilities, pharmacies, Inova, and the health department. Many locations offer same-day appointments, and some even have walk in availability. To find all the locations near you, visit www.vaccines.gov or visit the health department website.

If you have questions, contact the vaccine call center at 703-324-7404. 

Original source can be found here.