Schools Weigh In On Vax Efforts

Letter of Support for COVID-19 Vaccination to Keep Schools Open.
May 4, 2021

 
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every single person in Michigan. Our children  especially have had to miss out on, or change, the way they enjoy once-in-a-lifetime  events. However, we are proud that our schools have offered an in-person education option this year, most with few interruptions, while other areas in the state and country  have debated if it is possible.  

Schools and local health departments know school closure negatively impacts our  children’s physical, mental, and educational development, as well as their overall  wellbeing. To keep our K-12 schools open safely this year, we have devoted large  amounts of time and resources to this worthwhile investment. We will continue to do what  is best to keep children in school, which includes following safety measures and  encouraging the community to get vaccinated for COVID-19.  

There has been a great deal of scientific study on school safety and COVID-19. These  studies consistently tell us that the risk of COVID-19 spreading in schools that follow  proper infection control - like wearing masks, washing hands, keeping people spaced  apart, among others - is very low. The studies also tell us that most of the cases of  COVID-19 in students and staff at schools are due to community transmission, meaning  COVID-19 came from outside of the school; this is what we have seen in our school  systems as well. Unfortunately, when a student or staff members does become infected  with COVID-19 in the community and comes to school, they can expose many people in  the school and on occasion, infect other people at school. When large numbers of people  are exposed, or if COVID-19 starts spreading in the school, often the only option is to  close the school for up to two weeks. We know this is a hardship on our students and  families. 

The best way to keep our schools open is to reduce and prevent COVID-19 in our  communities, especially in those people who are around our students and staff.  Currently, our best hope of doing that is with vaccination for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that  causes COVID-19. We ask that all those able to get vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 do so to  help keep our schools open. As vaccination becomes available to younger age groups,  we encourage you to get your children vaccinated to help end this pandemic and help us  have a more traditional school year in the fall. You can find information about vaccination  at www.dhd10.org. The kids in your community are counting on you.  
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Signed: 
District Health Department #10              Crawford AuSable School District
Crawford Excelsior #1                               Forest Area Schools
Kalkaska Public Schools                            Baldwin Community School District
CASMAN Academy                                      Manistee Area Public Schools
Manistee ISD                                               Covenant Christian School
Gateway to Success Academy                    Ludington Area School District
Mason County Central School District     Mason County Eastern School District
West Shore Educational Service District  Mecosta-Osceola ISD
Big Rapids Public Schools                           Chippewa Hills School District
McBain Rural Agricultural Schools            Fremont Public Schools
Grant Public Schools                                    Hesperia Community Schools
Newaygo County RESA                                 White Cloud Public Schools
Hart Public Schools                                      Pentwater School District
Shelby Public Schools                                  Walkerville Public Schools
Cadillac Area Public Schools                       Mesick Consolidated Schools
St Ann School                                                Wexford-Missaukee ISD

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