White Co. Schools Offering COVID Vaccines For Students 16+

White County students 16 and older will have the opportunity to be COVID vaccinated Thursday.

School Health Supervisor Marcie Kinnard said the White County Health Department will be set up to give the Pfizer vaccine to any student with a guardian’s permission.

“Permission forms are available at the high school in the front office and in the nurse’s office,” Kinnard said. “And, it is strictly voluntary, and they are setting up. We are going to try to do it outside on the track since the weather is supposed to be nice.”

Kinnard said students that receive both vaccine shots and do not show symptoms after an exposure can bypass the school’s quarantine guidelines. Currently, the district follows CDC guidelines, which recommends a 14-day quarantine.

“Because, they are vaccinated and have antibodies, the CDC has said that anyone that is vaccinated does not have to quarantine unless they develop symptoms for a period of 90 days after their second dose,” Kinnard said. “So, two weeks after that second dose, you have enough antibodies that the CDC says you don’t have to quarantine now for 90 days.”

Kinnard said she is a big believer in vaccines and thinks vaccinating your child is a wise decision. That is why Kinnard worked with the county health department to make this opportunity available.

“We’ve always partnered with the health department,” Kinnard said. “I used to work at the White County Health Department several years ago, and even when I worked there, we had a great relationship with the former coordinated health supervisor, and I continued that partnership. (…) When we had the opportunity to help host what they call a, ‘Pod,’ that is when we said yes.”

Kinnard said students that participate will receive their second dose in the same fashion when the time comes. Kinnard said she recommends parents and students to consult their physician before making a decision on underage vaccinations.