JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Starting this week, each secondary school in Duval County will host a vaccine event.
The school system is partnering with the Florida Department of Health – Duval County to vaccinate employees and students aged 12 and older.
RELATED: DCPS setting up COVID-19 vaccination clinic in every secondary school for students, employees
The school district has reported 317 positive cases of COVID-19 since schools opened last week: 270 students and 47 staff members.
Baldwin Middle/Senior High School has reported the most with a total of 18, followed by Mandarin High School, Sandalwood High and Fletcher Middle.
Dr. Mobeen Rathore, a pediatric infectious disease specialist for Wolfson Children’s Hospital, posted to social media on Sunday saying the 82 new coronavirus cases in Duval schools that had been reported in the first week was definitely an undercount.
82 new #coronavirus cases @DuvalSchools 1st wk is definitely undercount. Parents be aware your child may be infected. #MaskUp and #vaccinate @WolfsonChildren @FloridaAAP @AmerAcadPeds @DrMobeen @MelissainJax @wjxt4 @ActionNewsJax @FCN2go @UFHealthJax @BaptistHealthJx @UFHealth
— Mobeen Rathore, MD, CPE, FAAP, FPIDS, FIDSA, FSHEA (@mhrathore) August 15, 2021
He said parents should be aware their child may be infected, and that they should mask up and get vaccinated if they are eligible.
Baptist Health reported Wednesday that 16 children are currently being treated at Wolfson Children’s Hospital for COVID-19 and four are in the intensive care unit.
Baptist says more than 90% of the COVID patients age 12 and older in its five hospitals right now haven’t been fully vaccinated.
Starting Wednesday, four DCPS schools will initiate the district’s plan to have a vaccine clinic at every secondary school in the county:
- Darnell Cookman Middle and High School
- Grand Park Alternative School
- John E. Ford K-8
- Raines High School
Through the end of August and September, staff and students 12 and up can get both doses of the Pfizer vaccine at one of the 54 schools participating.
Four more schools will open vaccine clinics on Thursday.
SCHEDULE: Here’s when each middle school/high school is offering first and second dose
There is a parental consent form that needs to be filled out. You can find it here: https://dcps.duvalschools.org/Page/30737.