Close X
Friday, November 22, 2024
ADVT 
National

Vaccinations for school based staff in the Surrey School District to begin March 24th

Darpan News Desk Surrey School District, 24 Mar, 2021 06:02 AM
  • Vaccinations for school based staff in the Surrey School District to begin March 24th

The Provincial Health Officer recently announced that K-12 educational staff are among priority groups identified by public health to receive their first dose of the AstraZeneca/SII COVISHIELD (AZ/SII) vaccine in April.

With doses of this vaccine available now, Fraser Health has decided to provide school-based staff in the Surrey School District early access to the vaccine in a phased approach, so immunization clinics are not overwhelmed.

"Our district has experienced more school-based exposures than any other district in our province," said Laurie Larsen, Chair of the Surrey Board of Education. "Education is an essential service, and we are so pleased that our school staff will be able to get immunized early."

With almost 9,000 school-based staff in the district, appointments are being offered to schools in zones that have the highest rates of community transmission first. This means that our first priority will be all schools in the Panorama-Sullivan, City Centre and Newton-Fleetwood areas.

BCTF President Teri Mooring welcomed the news for schools South of the Fraser with much enthusiasm.

Vaccinations will begin March 24 and our hope is that all of our school-based staff will be immunized by April 1. The clinics will begin with a capacity of more than 400 people per day but will quickly increase to about 1,500 per day.

The district will share a letter with staff at each school as their school becomes eligible. The letter will include instructions for immunization appointments, including your allotted time slot.

"Our staff have been working tirelessly to keep our schools open and ensure our students can continue to learn as safely as possible," said Superintendent Jordan Tinney. "Providing early access to the vaccine for our district's school-based staff, particularly as transmission continues to be high in our community, is critical in keeping our schools open for in-person learning and ultimately benefiting our entire community."

At this time, only school-based staff – employees who are assigned to a specific school site – are eligible. District staff who are not school based are not eligible at this time.

Our hope is that all our school-based staff take advantage of this opportunity and choose to get vaccinated as their school is eligible. These immunizations will help address ongoing community transmission, and help protect our staff, students and larger school communities.

MORE National ARTICLES

Conservatives kick off virtual policy convention

Conservatives kick off virtual policy convention
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the event entirely online, and while robust debate is expected on the party's policy and governance, it will be hard to find the raucous spirit that normally takes over a convention floor.

Conservatives kick off virtual policy convention

Canada-U.S. vaccine parity key to border: Higgins

Canada-U.S. vaccine parity key to border: Higgins
He is also among several members of Congress consulted by the Wilson Center in a study of the economic impact of the border closure.

Canada-U.S. vaccine parity key to border: Higgins

Man charged in Alberta school stabbing in court

Man charged in Alberta school stabbing in court
Leduc Mayor Bob Young has said Winkler died in hospital on Monday after being stabbed.

Man charged in Alberta school stabbing in court

Ford praises U.S. for vaccine loan proposal

Ford praises U.S. for vaccine loan proposal
In January, Ford appealed directly to Biden to help Canada by sending a million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from a plant in Michigan.

Ford praises U.S. for vaccine loan proposal

Member of military police charged over racist pics

Member of military police charged over racist pics
Thomas and Vance did not provide specifics except to say that the incident was reported to have occurred in Quebec and specifically targeted Black people.

Member of military police charged over racist pics

Meng's judge questions depth of border exam

Meng's judge questions depth of border exam
Tony Paisana, one of Meng's lawyers, replied that the fact the officers didn't do a great job of violating Meng's rights doesn't mean they didn't violate them.

Meng's judge questions depth of border exam