The V.I. Dept. of Education has announced a partnership with the V.I. Department of Health and the American Federation of Teachers (locals 1825 and 1826) to offer students, parents, and employees Covid-19 vaccinations at all public schools, beginning February 14. As part of the effort, students who get vaccinated from Mon. Feb. 14 through the end of the school year in May, will receive a $250 gift card from D.O.H..
Three vaccination sessions will be conducted at various schools from February - May 2022, D.O.E. said. Appointments are not necessary; all walk-ins are welcomed. The Dept. of Health will visit schools on a rotating schedule to administer the free Pfizer vaccine every twenty-one days until the end of the 2021-2022 school year, according to the department.
The St. Croix vaccination schedule is here. The St. Thomas-St. John District schedule is here.
To be eligible for the gift card, students must be between the ages of 5-17. For the first drive, the $250 gift card will be awarded to students who get their first dose of the vaccine by Feb. 25 and the second dose by March 18. During the second drive, students who get vaccinated between early March to early April will be eligible, and during the third session between early April to early May. See the above drive schedule for exact dates.
According to D.O.E., students who were fully vaccinated prior to this time will also receive a gift card beginning Feb. 16 at the Community Vaccination Centers. Some students between the ages of 12 and 17 received a $250 Visa gift card in the first giveaway held last year and will not be eligible to receive another gift card in this second round.
D.O.E. has sent out consent forms that must be signed by a parent if a child is to receive the shots.
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