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Boston Public Schools Announces Opening of First Vaccination Clinic for Workers
Clinic Provides Additional Vaccine Access Point for BPS Staff and Contractors
BOSTON – Wednesday, March 10, 2021 – Boston Public Schools (BPS) announced today the opening of the first vaccine clinic dedicated to administering COVID-19 vaccinations to educators, bus drivers, bus monitors, and all BPS employees and contractors. The first of two BPS-only sites will open on Sunday, March 14, and will add a new level of access to the COVID-19 vaccine to ensure the health and safety of the BPS workforce.
The first clinic, located at the Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) Gallivan Community Center in Mattapan, will offer approximately 200 appointments per day. BPS will operate the clinic on Sundays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and Monday through Thursday from 2:00 to 7:00 pm. The clinic will run for two weeks, then will be operational again after 21 days to provide second doses for an additional two weeks. Staff and contractors can sign up for appointments at the BPS clinic beginning Thursday, March 11.
“More and more Bostonians are receiving their vaccines, and vaccinating our educators is a key step in the City of Boston’s reopening and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “Boston Public Schools educators and staff have worked tirelessly and selflessly over the past year to be there for our students. As additional students return to our school buildings, we are working to provide our teachers and school staff with as many vaccine access points as we can to further promote the health and safety of our school communities.”
BPS continues to execute its vaccination management plan to provide equitable access to any BPS employee who wants to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Superintendent Brenda Cassellius has kept employees informed about rollout developments in her correspondence to staff. The district has sent text messages to staff with vaccine updates over the last few weeks. BPS also launched an internal website with recordings from recent virtual info sessions held exclusively for staff, the presentation slides, frequently asked questions, and a link for staff to register for a vaccine. BPS staff can schedule vaccination appointments on the website by entering their BPS credentials.
“As we near the first anniversary of last year’s school closure, the opening of our first clinic to administer vaccines to our workers is a monumental milestone in our battle against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said BPS Superintendent Cassellius. “There is more work ahead in our recovery, but this is a profoundly important moment for the Boston Public Schools and the City of Boston. I am so proud of our teachers and staff who have reinvented education over the last year in support of our students and families, and I thank the Boston Teachers Union and the Boston Public Health Commission for their continued collaboration and guidance.”
BPS is partnering with the Boston Teachers Union (BTU) to offer a second location for BPS employees and contractors only. The second BPS clinic will be located at the BTU Hall in Dorchester and open when more vaccine doses become available.
“We’re very encouraged by the momentum by which BPS and the City of Boston have made vaccinating our educators a priority now that we are eligible. We look forward to continuing our coordination in setting up as many appointments as possible,” said BTU President Jessica Tang. “BTU is appreciative that Boston is working so diligently with our educators on accessibility to the vaccines. Our students and educators want to be back in the classroom as soon and as safely as possible, and these additional access points poise us to do this right.”
BPS continues to remind staff of their options to receive a vaccine. Individuals can sign up on their own through the State’s website and community clinics (health centers, community-based organizations, and local pharmacies). In addition to the BPS clinics, BPS has reserved appointment slots at multiple existing clinics in the City of Boston.