BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2021 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Hours after logging more COVID-19 cases during the first three weeks of school than were logged during all of the 2020-2021 academic year, the Palm Beach County School District is announce vaccine and testing programs.
We note the programs are voluntary, but may be helpful in serving portions of the community that are underserved.
This is the official announcement:
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The School District is pleased to announce two separate voluntary COVID-19 initiatives that are intended to provide convenience and accessibility for those of you who would like to have your children tested for coronavirus and, or, be immunized with the Pfizer-BioNTECH vaccine which is authorized for those who are 12 years and older.
As these are two separate initiatives, the information provided to you for each is separated.
Free Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Testing for District Students
The District is collaborating with the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County to offer free, COVID-19, BinaxNOW rapid antigen testing for all District students. Tests are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, with no opportunity for making an appointment. Simply show up with a form of government identification such as a driver’s license, or U.S. or foreign government passport.
The drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites will offer convenient testing and timely results to help determine if your child is positive or negative for the virus. If your child is currently under a Stay-Home Directive or quarantine, a negative result may be presented to your child’s school as documentation of his or her testing status. Please note, only results from tests given by a licensed medical facility, such as a testing site or clinic, will be accepted for approval to return to school.
Any results from a home test will NOT be accepted by the District.
The two locations at which the District is offering Rapid Antigen testing are:
Chuck Shaw Technical Education Center4260 Westgate Ave. West Palm Beach, FL 334099:00 a.m. – 7 p.m. September 8 – October 1, 2021.
West Technical Education Center2625 NW 16th StreetBelle Glade, FL 33430. Dates announced soon.
A parent or guardian will be asked to complete a consent form on site prior to the test being administered, and a parent or guardian must be present with a child under the age of 18. Test locations, times, and more information on the test are available on the School District’s drive-thru COVID-19 rapid testing site webpage. The parent or guardian of a child who is tested will be contacted by the Department of Health with the results.
Free Pfizer Vaccinations for District Students and Family Members
The District’s second voluntary initiative, which also begins on September 8, 2021, is offered in partnership with the Health Care District of Palm Beach County.
The Health Care District will offer free, Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations to students, 12 and older, and family members. Students ages 12 to 17 must have a parent or guardian present to receive the vaccine. Students over the age of 18 do not need to be accompanied by a parent. There is no opportunity to make an appointment. Simply arrive at a designated immunization site with a form of government identification and the completed consent form.
The Health Care District’s Mobile Clinic will visit all District-operated high schools throughout September and will return to these locations three weeks later to administer the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
For the schedule of locations and times, information on the vaccine and to download the Health Care District’s consent forms, visit the School District’s Mobile Vaccination Clinic webpage.
These campuses have been selected due to their proximity to nearby middle and elementary schools. Students from surrounding schools are invited to the designated sites to receive the vaccine.
No booster vaccines will be administered at these locations. Those being immunized will be monitored for 15 minutes following the shot.
NOTE: Neither the COVID-19 vaccine nor COVID-19 testing is required for any student or staff member of the School District of Palm Beach County. Both services are completely voluntary.
