Birmingham Schools Will Vaccinate Students And Their Families

 1618901547 
1622211417

Miranda Fulmore, WBHM

Birmingham City Schools and Alabama Regional Medical Services will be giving COVID-19 vaccinations to city school students and their parents over the summer in an effort to make schools and their communities safer when they reopen in the fall.

“Our next school year begins on August 2, and we believe this is our best shot for a safe return,” Superintendent Mark Sullivan said in a statement after the move was announced Friday morning. “We want to make the vaccinations available close to home for our students and their families. When school resumes in August, we want all students to enjoy the full and robust experience of learning and growing in Birmingham City Schools.”

ARMS Chief Executive Officer Anthony Gardner, a Birmingham City Schools alumnus, said this partnership will have a significant impact on the community.

“The mission of ARMS is to provide access and service to the total community. I grew up in Birmingham, and for me this is personal. I want our families, our friends and our students to be safe and healthy,” he said. “This partnership with BCS is another opportunity to assist the total community in reaching that goal.”

The vaccination effort will kick off at Wenonah High School with clinics Wednesday, June 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday, June 5. Second doses will be scheduled for a few weeks later. Children 12 and older are eligible, along with their families.

Other locations and times will be announced this summer.

Registration is available on the ARMS site. Walkups also will be accepted.

 

Q&A: How harm reduction can help mitigate the opioid crisis

Maia Szalavitz discusses harm reduction's effectiveness against drug addiction, how punitive policies can hurt people who need pain medication and more.

The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring a Community Engagement Producer

The Gulf States Newsroom is seeking a curious, creative and collaborative professional to work with our regional team to build up engaged journalism efforts.

Gambling bills face uncertain future in the Alabama legislature

This year looked to be different for lottery and gambling legislation, which has fallen short for years in the Alabama legislature. But this week, with only a handful of meeting days left, competing House and Senate proposals were sent to a conference committee to work out differences.

Alabama’s racial, ethnic health disparities are ‘more severe’ than other states, report says

Data from the Commonwealth Fund show that the quality of care people receive and their health outcomes worsened because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What’s your favorite thing about Alabama?

That's the question we put to those at our recent News and Brews community pop-ups at Hop City and Saturn in Birmingham.

Q&A: A former New Orleans police chief says it’s time the U.S. changes its marijuana policy

Ronal Serpas is one of 32 law enforcement leaders who signed a letter sent to President Biden in support of moving marijuana to a Schedule III drug.

More BirminghamWatch Coverage