The Food and Drug Administration has authorized the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to approve that recommendation in the coming days.
Toledo Public Schools has been encouraging all students and staff members to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and now that vaccinations will be available to our youngest students, we are reinforcing that message. The district is working with the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department to offer vaccines for our students.
Wellness and Health Combined
We realize the unprecedented circumstances that our staff members have faced because of the coronavirus. As we continue to promote wellness across the district and offer vaccination options to those who are interested, all TPS school buildings and offices will be closed on Monday, November 22, and Tuesday, November 23, leading into the Thanksgiving break.
It will give everyone a chance to recharge and also gives those who are not yet vaccinated the time to receive their first vaccination. Students will be asynchronous remote learning for those two days or they will receive printed assignments that are required to be completed and turned in after the Thanksgiving break. There will be no in-person classes held the week of November 22.
Vaccination Options
The district is partnering with the health department and Health Partners of Western Ohio on those two days to provide vaccine clinics to allow parents the opportunity to have their students receive a COVID vaccine in their learning community. Healthcare professionals will be at the following TPS high schools to offer vaccines to those students who are 5-18 years of age: Bowsher, Rogers, Start, Scott, Waite, and Woodward. TPS staff members and other members of the community who are eligible for the vaccine can go to one of the district’s school-based health centers (Waite, Woodward, Rogers and Scott high schools) to receive their vaccination. Details regarding times and the exact locations of the clinics will be confirmed soon.
Students are encouraged to get their second vaccine three weeks after the initial shot. Please note: vaccines are recommended for both TPS staff members and students but are not mandatory.
Mask Update
At the start of the school year, TPS required students and staff members to wear face coverings or masks when in a school or a TPS office. The district will continue to follow that mandate. Current recommendations from local and state health officials reinforce that face coverings are one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19. District officials will continue to monitor the number of confirmed cases among students and staff members.