Caddo School District to start offering COVID-19 vaccinations for students age 16 or older

In this Wednesday, March 24, 2021 image from video provided by Duke Health, Alejandra Gerardo,... — In this Wednesday, March 24, 2021 image from video provided by Duke Health, Alejandra Gerardo, 9, looks up to her mom, Dr. Susanna Naggie, as she gets the first of two Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations during a clinical trial for children at Duke Health in Durham, N.C. In the U.S. and abroad, researchers are beginning to test younger and younger kids, to make sure the shots are safe and work for each age.(Shawn Rocco/Duke Health via AP)

By Kenley Hargett and Curtis Heyen

Updated: Apr. 28, 2021 at 10:38 PM CDT

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) — Caddo public school students age 16 or older can get vaccinated against COVID-19 starting Thursday, April 29.

LSU Health Shreveport staffers will be at C.E. Byrd High in Shreveport that day to start administering the Pfizer vaccine.

“The vaccine is completely optional; so no, we have not received any calls to our office from parents regarding the vaccine,” the School District reports.

Students will be required to have a parent’s or guardian’s signature before receiving the vaccine, and school staffers will be calling parents and guardians to verify that they have given permission.

LSU Health Shreveport Chief Infectious Disease Dr. John Vanchiere, chief of the pediatric infectious diseases division at LSU Health Shreveport, is advising everyone eligible to receive the vaccine to take it.

“Teenagers are only allowed to take the Pfizer vaccine right now, but it’s important that they get it.,” Vanchiere said. “Teenagers tend to be the super spreaders of this virus. And we encourage vaccination of our teenagers for the summer to stop the spread of the virus.”

In the next few months, Vanchiere expects kids age 5 or older to become eligible for the vaccine. He stressed that clinical trials have shown the virus to be safe.

There still is no COVID-19 vaccine approved for children younger than 16 years old.

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