Detroit Public Schools Community District student Rachel Kabala receives a COVID-19 vaccine and wrote an essay about the importance of vaccines.
Photo courtesy of Detroit Public Schools Community District
After COVID-19 vaccines were recently approved for teenagers (including soon to be 12+), the Detroit Public Schools Community District pulled out all the stops on Tuesday, May 11 to ensure that teens have access to receive shots in arms.
In concert with community health partners at the Detroit Health Department, Henry Ford Health System and Ascension Health, the NAACP Youth Council, and the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) student leaders announceed the launch of DPSCD Teens for Vaccines on Tuesday. The initiative is to provide vaccine education and accessibility opportunities to COVID-19 vaccines for District teachers, staff, families and eligible students (16+ and soon to be 12+).
Tuesday’s online discussion, to be led by DPSCD student ambassadors, is slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. The student ambassadors will share their successful vaccination stories and how it has allowed them to re-engage in social and extra-curricular activities. They will also be joined by a health official from the Henry Ford Health System, Dr. Dennis J. Cunningham, Medical Director for Infection Prevention to participate in an informative question and answer discussion. DPSCD Board President, Angelique Peterson-Mayberry will participate and Deputy Superintendent, Alycia Meriweather will facilitate.
“We as students welcome the opportunity to lead on what is one of the most impactful circumstances of our young lives,” said Harrison Haywood, a senior at Cass Technical High School, referring to the effects of the pandemic. “We look forward to sharing our own vaccination stories through the Teens for Vaccines program to help educate our friends and fellow students.”
Today, the Henry Ford Health System Mumford clinic will be providing vaccinations at 12 – 5 p.m. at Mumford Health Center 17525 Wyoming. Vaccines are by appointment only: call 313-484-5810.
In conjunction with the Detroit Health Department, the community is invited to attend the DPSCD Get the Vax Facts event, on Saturday May 22 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Randolph Career and Technical Center 17101 Hubbell in Detroit. First dose vaccinations will be available for anyone eligible. Second dose vaccination follow-up opportunities from the event are planned for Saturday, June 12 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. also at Randolph.
Other Teens for Vaccines campaign forums in May will include a session involving students from DPSCD’s Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program on Wed. May 19 at 5:30 p.m. as well as one with District student athletes, anticipated for the week of May 17th. Other sessions being developed include a Dad’s and Grads forum as well as a gathering focused on 12-15-year-old students for the month of June.
“I commend our DPSCD students for the leadership they are showing by lending their voices to the Teens for Vaccines campaign,” said Peterson-Mayberry. “Their displays of courage are something for all to emulate as we seek to beat the pandemic and restore a sense of normalcy to our lives.”
Teens for Vaccines will run through the end of June and is open for all to participate.
For more information, visit detroitk12.org and follow @detroitk12 on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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