ROANOKE, Va. – As Governor Ralph Northam continues to urge Virginians to get a COVID-19 vaccine, Roanoke City Public Schools kicked off its first vaccine clinic for eligible students.
Though the vaccines are completely optional, a new poll shows more parents are willing to get their children vaccinated.
Nearly 100 students at both Patrick Henry and William Flemings High School received their first dose of Pfizer Friday.
Executive Director of School Climate and Safety Tim Hahn points out how convenient it is for students to just walk into their gym and roll up their sleeves.
“Each of our students having that opportunity, it is valuable,” Hahn said.
The timing of these vaccines is crucial.
Now more students will be vaccinated before the summer break but will have enough time in between to get ready for the new school year.
“So it was important to get these vaccines in now so it wouldn’t affect their school entry vaccines at the end of the summer,” Carilion Children’s Practice Director Alicia McAllister-Daniels said.
Most parents seem to be on board with getting their children vaccinated according to a new survey from Virginia Commonwealth University.
66% of parents with children age 12-17 are likely to have their children vaccinated while parents with children age 11 and under were at 63%.
Promising numbers as Hahn said they are eager for the day Pfizer and Moderna approve vaccines for ages 12 to 17.
“We’re excited we already started the discussions with VDH and with Carilion on possibly adding that as an opportunity here for our students as well,” he said.
All students who received a vaccine today will be able to get their second dose in three weeks on May 28th.