The New Jersey School Boards Association has received inquiries from members asking if schools can be used as vaccination sites for teachers and staff.
“We thought this idea had great merit, and resolved to explore the possibilities involved in such an undertaking,” said Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, NJSBA executive director. “Vaccinating teachers and staff members is a critical step in fully reopening our schools, which all boards are working towards.”
After consulting with both Gov. Phil Murphy’s office, and the New Jersey Department of Health, the Association learned that to be approved as a place where vaccines can be administered, a site must be a registered COVID vaccine provider. That status is awarded after meeting several requirements, including having proper storage and handling protocols, training, the ability to be a “good steward” of the vaccines and a mechanism to get the vaccines into the arms of the eligible populations.
At this time, NJSBA was told, New Jersey does not have a large enough supply of the vaccine to support schools as vaccination sites.
Gov. Murphy’s office expressed an appreciation that school districts are willing to assist in this way during the pandemic, and indicated that schools would be kept in mind as vaccination sites.
Schools Working with Vaccine Providers Some school districts in New Jersey have worked with local health providers to arrange vaccination of school staff. This week, NJSBA is sending a survey to board members, superintendents and business administrators in the state to explore these partnerships and how they are working. NJSBA will provide details on the survey results in a future edition of School Board Notes.