Michigan Drops In-School Masking, DPSCD Ups Vaccination Rates
As school districts across the nation continue to struggle with the issue of mandating that students wear masks in the classroom and while on school property, several have announced their intention to drop the mandates.
The State of Michigan – the only state in the nation which required masks for student-athletes – recently announced revised guidelines for masking for indoor settings, most notable among them is the elimination of masks for public school students. The removal of the mask recommendation is seen by many as an indicator that Covid rates in the state are in decline and the return to normal operations in school districts statewide is warranted.
In making the decision not to implement masking requirements, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said the state is in a “recovery” phase and does not anticipate a resurgence of infections.
Previously there were no state-imposed penalties for non-compliance.
“Wearing a mask over one’s mouth and nose is a medical decision that should be left to each individual, not mandated by a government whose job it is to protect the rights of the people,” said relieved parent Sonja Harrison, a member of change.org.
But even if legislators and school officials anticipate a relatively harmless return to no masks in school, the Detroit Public Schools Community District continues to exercise caution adding more comprehensive safeguards for health and safety to students across the city. The DPSCD will provide in-school immunizations to individual students and families on school premises. School nurses will administer standard immunizations including Covid vaccines in K -12 classes.
“Detroit has a 4 percent childhood vaccine rate, 10 times less than other surrounding cities. This creates an increased chance of positive cases and outbreaks [of Covid]. The significance of providing the vaccine directly to our families and students in their schools, will speed up the process of students resuming in-person learning permanently while continuing to implement the highest level of safety precautions,” said Dr. Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent, DPSCD.
The unprecedented in-school immunization program is made possible through a partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan’s Racial Disparities Task Force, and the Detroit Health Department.
As an additional incentive, MDHHS is also providing $25 gift cards to CVS to each family with a child who participates in this vaccine program. More than 2,000 gift cards will be handed out while supplies last.
As of Feb. 14, six Detroit schools were identified to participate in the pilot phase of the immunization program. The schools are; A.L. Holmes, Coleman A. Young, Earhart, Mumford, Osborn and Southeastern High School.
“With this partnership between MDHHS, Michigan’s Coronavirus Racial Disparities Task Force, local public health officials, and DPSCD, we will boost vaccination rates across Detroit, protect our community, and help teachers and staff provide our kids with a great education,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, adding that the program may be adopted in school districts across the state.
When the school vaccine program is fully implemented it will provide first and second Covid vaccine doses in 20 clinics weekly.
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