Vaccine Taskforce Supports Students with Clinic Access

November 17, 2021

Students fight back against Covid-19 by following safety regulations such as the mask mandate.

As Covid-19 cases continue to rise, teachers at Springfield Honors Academy combatted the spread in the classroom by creating the Vaccine Taskforce, a group providing students with testing, vaccines, access to clinics, and information on how to stay safe during the pandemic.

In order to manage the spread of Covid-19 at SHA precautions such as mandatory masks, closed-down water fountains, and social distancing have been taken, but the spread continues. So to ensure the decline of cases in schools and reach the 80 percent vaccination rate goal, teachers decided to create a program to reach out to the students.

The task force was formed to improve the health of students by providing them with information about the following vaccines: the flu, covid-19, hepatitis a/b, varicella, measles, t-dap and meningococcal. It was formed by teachers searching for a way to increase students’ knowledge, and give them more insight into their health.

Their mission was also “to make sure students have access to the vaccine,” said Kayla Silvers, a biology teacher who is an active member of the task force. 

The task force reached out to the Big Y Pharmacy and Wellness clinic through their partnership with Springfield public schools to set up a walk-in vaccination station. One of the stations ran on Oct. 28 and was scheduled for Nov. 19 but was moved back a day at the last minute.  There were five students from SHA who signed up for the Covid-19 vaccine; the amount of students vaccinated currently is at 64 percent.

Sources: SHA, State of Massachusetts; Centers for Disease Control

 “I already planned to get my vaccination, but the school made it easier for me,” said Angie Provost a junior who got their vaccination from the clinic.

Another student who attended the clinic, freshman Laiyla Arroyo, said, “I was very nervous, but my parents already having the vaccine helped me and the school made it easier to get.” 

As of now, there are no future plans for the task force.

The mask mandate will still remain in place, as well as the social distancing regulations. There will be more information regarding the regulations in the near future.

“

Many of us just want the education and knowledge behind the vaccine to empower students,

— Kayla Silvers, Biology Teacher

Students have been instilled with a feeling of fear of getting sick or spreading the virus in school with moving to in-person. But returning to school in person has also helped students reach out and continue to develop friends within their classes, unlike remote last year which made most students isolate themselves.

The official members of the task force are Tom Bodo, the life skill and AP Seminar teacher; Matthew Bertuzzi, the music teacher; Camilla Sise, the physics teacher; and Silvers.

“Many of us,” said Silvers, “just want the education and knowledge behind the vaccine to empower students and create feelings of safety,”