Superintendent was prepared early
LINWOOD — Superintendent Brian Pruitt thought it was so important to get children vaccinated against the coronavirus that he started planning a clinic before the drug was even approved for all children in his district.
“In anticipation of the approval of the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds, the Linwood School District is partnering with AtlantiCare to host a vaccination clinic at Belhaven Middle School,” Pruitt stated in a districtwide email to parents.
“I knew from conversations I have had with community members, parents, of the desire to have it for their kids as an added level of protection,” Pruitt said during the first night of the clinic. “Once I started reading about the approval dates coming through the FDA, I made a point of reaching out to AtlantiCare and making sure that we could get something on the books. We have been planning this since early October.”
AtlantiCare provided staff members Nov. 10-11, when parents and their children — mostly nervous youngsters, some better at acting nonchalant than others — gathered in the gymnasium to receive the first dose of the vaccine. Second doses were scheduled for Dec. 1-2.
One of the children who was clearly keeping his cool was Theo Coville, 11, sitting with his mother, Charlotte.
“We are very lucky to have the opportunity,” she said.
Theo, a sixth-grader, agreed.
“I think it’s going to hurt but it’s good that I’m getting it,” he said, adding that adjusting to COVID has not been a big deal.
“I’m fine with masks. We take mask breaks every other period, so it’s pretty good,” he said.
Tim Donovan of the Linwood Recreation Department made it a family affair, bringing daughter Adeline, 11, and son Jackson, 9, to get vaccinated.
“My wife is a surgeon and she has been very excited to get them vaccinated,” he said, adding that his wife has been vaccinated since January and he since May.
Adeline said she was “excited but a little bit nervous.”
“I think we’ll still have to wear masks because other people might not want to get vaccinated,” she said, adding that she has been talking to friends about when they are getting their injection so they can get together again.
Linda Goodman of Mays Landing was happy to oblige, and asked Adeline if she wanted a plain bandage or a pretty one. She went with pretty.
Mark and Kathleen Novasack also brought their family — daughter Juliette, 11, son Bennett, 9, and Evangeline, 6.
Juliette was nervous but declared it painless. That didn’t make Bennett any less wary and did nothing for Evangeline’s terror.
“I think it’s important that we show them that the science is accurate and that we can trust the science to help get us out of this mess that we’re in,” Novasack said, noting he and his wife work in health care.
He thought the clinic was a great idea and well-run.
“It’s been very smooth and helps all of the kids to see other kids going through it to know that it’s OK to be nervous but they’re not the only one to have to go through it,” Novasack said.
Pruitt said 258 children were registered to receive a vaccine over the course of the two days.
“The biggest portion is Linwood but we did offer it to Northfield and Somers Point,” he said, noting a representative from AtlantiCare told him Linwood was the first district to do something like this.
Pruitt said holding the clinic at the school provided a familiar setting and allowed students to see others getting a shot.
“We felt like it was important to offer it in a place that the kids knew, that they were comfortable in. They are going to see some familiar faces while they’re here,” he said. “We knew also that with the backup at the pharmacy or getting an appointment with a pediatrician, we thought it was better to hold something full-scale here.”
Claudia Goldberg brought her daughters, Lia, 12, and Maya, 8, to the clinic. She said getting vaccinated is “the only way we are going to stop the virus and I wanted them to have some protection and hopefully get back to normal. The more we get vaccinated, the more we can put this behind us.”
Patricia Montgomery of Cape May Court House was as gentle as possible, assuring Maya that it would be over quickly. The 8-year-old declared it no problem. Her older sister showed no fear but the 12-year-old did pull off a pretty good “ouch” face.
Pruitt said the more children that get vaccinated, the easier it will be to keep them in the classroom.
“It changes the quarantine rules if you’re vaccinated, unless you are symptomatic,” he said. “If you are vaccinated and you don’t have symptoms, you wouldn’t be considered a close contact.”
Pruitt said the clinic will also help keep people healthy both inside and outside school.
“One of the things that I want to be sure that gets communicated is that this was important for the children and for them with school, but it is also about the health and safety of the greater community as well,” he said.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff