Message from the Superintendent: COVID Vaccinations Approved for Children aged 5 - 11
November 5, 2021
Dear Freeport Families,
Recently, COVID-19 vaccinations were approved as safe and effective for children ages 5 to 11. Additionally,the CDC has recommended that children 5 to 11 years old be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine. COVID-19 cases in children can result in hospitalizations, deaths, MIS-C (inflammatory syndromes) and long-term complications, such as "long COVID," in which symptoms can linger for months. Getting a vaccination will protect your child's health and allow your child to more safely participate in normal activities. As the parent /legal guardian, you must give consent for your child to be vaccinated.
I encourage you to educate yourself about the safety and benefits of the vaccine to make an informed decision. Arm yourself with knowledge: Learn more about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines. Get all facts you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccines by visiting the New York State vaccine hub at https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/
There will be an informational virtual webinar from Northwell Health on COVID-19 Vaccines: An Important Update for Parents on Tuesday November 9th at 7 pm. You can log on https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_H-VbDqU1RhaCwHhH95Zt7g
I urge you to consider having your 5 - 11 year old children vaccinated. If you or your children ages 12 and up have not been vaccinated yet, I encourage you to do so now. Freeport Schools does have the Mt. Sinai VaxMobile come regularly. The next date will be Tuesday, November 30th. Registration information will be shared with you. If you would like to vaccinate your child sooner, please use this link to find locations and make an appointment https://www.northwell.edu/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine/pediatric. If your child is a patient at Cohen Children's, you can contact your child's physician directly to schedule an appointment.
The health and safety of our children remains our highest priority. While in school, we will still continue to follow all safety precautions such as wearing masks, physical distancing and hygiene protocols.
Regards,
Dr. Kishore Kuncham
Superintendent of Schools