November 9, 2021
Dear LREI Community,
Thank you to those who reached out with questions and thoughts after I sent our Covid-19 policy reminders last Thursday. I am always happy to answer your questions. Please be in touch.
As you have undoubtedly heard, the FDA has given Emergency Use Authorization to the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for 5-11 year olds and the CDC has encouraged its use and created a set of recommendations. Below you will find LREI’s plans for student vaccinations followed by thoughts on how we arrived at this decision.
November 2021 – Vaccines are now available for children between the ages of 5-11. We are asking all families of children who are 5 – 11 years old to vaccinate their children as soon as possible. You can find information about getting the vaccine at NYS goes #vaxtoschool. If you have any questions, please speak to your child’s health care provider(s). Vaccines are available at many pediatricians, most pharmacies, and NYC mass vaccination sites.
January 9, 2021 – Our goal is to have all children receive their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine no later than Sunday, January 9th, 2022, one week after Winter Break.
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A fully or mostly vaccinated student body in the New Year will allow for broader in-school opportunities, some of which will not be available to unvaccinated children. These will include some of our most exciting activities including trips, sports, and ensembles, for example.
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Fully vaccinated students will not have to quarantine due to in school exposure and can have a provider-performed antigen test (no home tests) in order to be cleared for return to school when experiencing symptoms.
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Those students who have not turned five by January 9 will continue to test once per month until fully vaccinated. It is expected that children will receive their first dose within two weeks of their 5th birthday.
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Eligible children who do not receive the first dose of vaccine by January 9, 2021 will also continue with monthly Covid-19 tests in school. If other mitigation strategies are relaxed, testing of eligible but unvaccinated students may be increased to once every other week.
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Eligible but unvaccinated students will have to continue to quarantine for all exposures and to have PCR tests to return.
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It is possible that our third grade – sixth grade overnight trips, if we can have them at all, will require vaccination. Our goal is to have the most enriched and enriching school year possible. Vaccines increase the possibility of this.
It is highly likely that we will require all students, age 5 and up to be fully vaccinated to return to school in September.
We feel strongly that our 5-11 years old students get vaccinated for a few reasons, including:
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Vaccinated children will have a decreased likelihood of Covid-19 infection and will decrease the severity of their illness if they do contract the Covid-19 virus.
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Fully vaccinated students are not required to quarantine after COVID exposure, allowing the students to mix more freely, have a more typical academic program, and miss fewer days of school. As we stated, the testing requirements for vaccinated students have been relaxed.
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Unvaccinated students who are exposed will continue to quarantine though if the rest of the class is in person, we may not move the academic experience on-line.
Vaccinated children are less likely to transmit the virus to younger, unvaccinated members of their household and also to older members of their household and family. As the winter drives us all indoors, vaccinated children will be protected during the most challenging time of the year in terms of viruses of all sorts.
If all who are eligible can receive the vaccine we will protect those in our community who are unable to be vaccinated. Each person who is vaccinated supports the larger public health effort to decrease the prevalence of Covid-19 infection in the wider community and to decrease the likelihood of new variants, etc.
From the FDA and the CDC – the risks of receiving the vaccine are fewer than those of not being vaccinated. This is an important point. Yes, the vaccine is not 100% risk free. However, the Delta variant of the coronavirus has created a significant uptick in the number of cases involving children. The risk of getting Covid and all that that can entail is greater than the risks that come with getting the vaccine.
While there may be a desire to wait until more is known, we will, I hope, always learn more about the vaccines and the virus. This is the nature of science. We are always learning more. Waiting means a continued risk of infection. The trials for these vaccines were rigorous and conclusive.
Is there a difference between vaccinating younger children and older children? Adults? There may be an emotional difference. The medical and scientific differences were accounted for in the creation of the vaccines and in the trials. For some, these are challenging parenting decisions. The care and love involved are real and powerful. Acknowledging this, Covid-19 is a danger to children and to our communities. The vaccine will protect us – each and all.
Please, if you have any questions, contact me, Ava Dawson, health director, Brian Rizzo, Sixth Ave. nurse, or anyone with whom you feel comfortable speaking. We are eager to have these conversations with you.
Vaccination cards should be uploaded to the “Immunization” section in Magnus after both the first and second vaccine. Uploading to this section will not erase any student records.
We will host a community conversation for families regarding the Covid-19 vaccine for 5-11 year olds
Wednesday, November 17, 2021, 7:00p.m.-8:00p.m.
The Zoom link can be found on the Community Events Calendar.
We will also continue to share helpful resources, like this from Columbia University.
Final thoughts…. Soon after the adult vaccine became available we chose not to mandate it for school employees. We spent a good deal of time sharing information about the vaccines, helping to allay the concerns that some colleagues had, and emphasizing all of the benefits the vaccines offer. Quite quickly the vast majority of the faculty and staff were on their way to full vaccination, safeguarding their health, that of their families, and that of the communities to which they belong. We are grateful to our colleagues, 100% of whom are now proudly and voluntarily vaccinated, and who began the process with far less information than we have now. Then came the 12 and ups. We required these vaccines, though by the time we did so most of these students were happily following the example set by their teachers, thereby allowing us to plan for a more open school experience for these grades. We are so grateful to have our program back in full swing for the 7th – 12th graders. School feels more like school again. Now it is time for our younger students to participate in this effort, safeguarding their health and that of the community (including many of the fours), and in keeping our progressive program going full strength. Thank you, kindergarteners – sixth graders (and parents) for doing your part.
Be well,
P.S. We recommend that all students receive the flu shot, as well. These are also widely available, and there is no required spacing between the COVID and flu vaccines.