According to Superintendent Kristen Weikle, about 800 families are signed up to participate in the mass vaccination clinic allotted for Nov. 13 despite a recent study that calls for the “immediate withdrawal” of mRNA vaccines for children, pregnant and nursing women.
“We’re really just serving as the host location. We worked with Carle for our students aged 12-17 earlier this year. They are a really good partner with us. We’re really proving this as a service to our families, because we’ve had a lot of people ask,” said Weiklie.
The vaccination clinic at Kingsley Junior High School will be specifically catered to students 5-11.
Is Unit 5 receiving any funding from the anyone, like the state or federal government, to co-host the vaccination clinic?
“It’s important to remember that this is voluntary. It’s completely optional for a family if they want to sign up their child to get the vaccination. When we talked with Carle about setting up a clinic, the state was flexible until we knew it was going to be authorized for use in children ages 5-11. As far as any financial incentives, we receive absolutely none.The only incentive is really just being a good community partner,” said Weikle.
Amidst a recent study conducted by CDC researchers, Cities asked Weikle is reputations would be damaged for hosting a clinic if the vaccine were to undergo withdraw.
“Any clinics that we have offered whether they be upcoming for the children age 5-11 or previous clinics, they’ve all been voluntary. In all situations. I have my doctorate in education not in health. I’m not a healthcare provider where I can answer some of those questions,” said Weikle. “I like everyone, I would go to my primary care physician and ask. We’re just again serving as a host site. Whether you’re an adult or a child you have to make that decision for yourself. Or your family, if you are a child obviously your parents and family members will be making that decision for you.”
When asked about continued masking despite vaccination, Weikle said Unit 5 remains under the Governor’s executive order and the direction from Dr. Ayala, the State board superintendent.
“If that’s lifted and/or expires without being renewed, the district would certainly look at what we would need to do for our community or what’s in the best interest for students and staff. Right now the students are wearing masks and are identified as a close contact. You don’t have to quarantine them if they’re three or more feet apart. If they are not masked then the distance goes to six feet, and the length of quarantine is longer. It would be so preliminary, because I don’t know if those rules or regulations will change. It’s really dependent on a lot of factors. The first one would be if the governor’s executive order is lifted and or expired,” said Weikle.
Typically the board president takes information from board members as to whether or not items are placed on the agenda.
Jeremy DeHaai, at the last school board meeting, called on the board to reevaluate the mask mandate because he said there is no end in sight when it comes to the Governor’s executive order.