COVID-19 vaccine is not a golden ticket to normalcy in Michigan schools – yet – MLive.com

The COVID-19 vaccines arrival in Michigan brings hope to many that the pandemic is nearing the end, but health and education experts agree theres a long way to go before school will return to normal.

The current vaccine is not approved for children younger than 16, and even after teachers are vaccinated, health officials said its best to continue wearing masks and practice social distancing. The normalcy of in-person school wont return overnight, the experts said.

Gayla Clark, a third grade teacher at Prairie Ridge Elementary School in Kalamazoo, said she will get the vaccine as soon as possible to protect herself, her family and her students.

I dont want to give (COVID-19) to anybody, Clark said. How awful would that be to know that youve given it to someone elderly, young or whoever, Clark said.

The teachers union vice president said shes thankful that Kalamazoo Public Schools has remained in virtual mode and will do so at least until March. Clark doesnt believe the arrival of the vaccine will have any impact on the 2020-21 school year.

But, although progress toward normalcy is slow-moving, theres at least a light at the end of the tunnel, she said.

Its at least a little glimmer of hope, Clark said.

Health officials have a lot of unknowns about how a vaccine may affect the school year, Susan Ringler Cerniglia, Washtenaw County Health Department spokeswoman, said.

We wont know a lot until we have a vaccine they can actually take, Cerniglia said. And when theres wide availability.

Teachers will be vaccinated earlier as part of phase 1B, which is the second of four distribution phases outlined by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Vaccination of school staff is essential to improve the capacity to have in person instruction, MDHHS officials said.

Teachers are grouped with other essential workers behind healthcare workers in line for the vaccine. There are an estimated 87 million Americans working in essential sectors, like food and agriculture, manufacturing and law enforcement, according to a New York Times article.

This includes the countrys three million teachers but may not account for school nurses, janitors, cafeteria workers and other school workers who are also crucial to reopening school, the article states.

In Michigan, distribution of the vaccine is slower than expected. This week, the state received less than half the doses of vaccine than it expected.

MDHHS received 84,825 doses of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine last week, and anticipated another 84,000 the week of Dec. 22, as well as 173,600 doses of the Moderna vaccine just approved by the Federal Drug Administration.

Instead, state officials have been told to expect 60,450 doses each of the Pfizer and Moderna immunizations, according to Lynn Sutfin, MDHHS spokeswoman.

Distribution of the vaccine will take multiple months. And students are unlikely to see vaccinations before the beginning of next year as pediatric trials have only just begun, per the New York Times article.

The vaccine provides a light at the end of the tunnel for many parents who are trying to work, do remote school and take care of their families, said Jessica Grose, The Timess Parenting columnist. But theres still considerable anxiety about how the months ahead might play out.

The vaccine will give her staff an additional layer of protection against the virus, Naomi Norman, Washtenaw County Intermediate School District interim superintendent, said.

Most importantly, the vaccine is giving us hope that there is an end to the pandemic, Norman said. We remain concerned about the student health risks and will be continuing to follow our pandemic response plans with guidance from our local health department.

The ISD has not discussed widespread changes to its in-person school models and knows schools will need to continue mitigation efforts, like mask wearing and physical distancing, into the new year, Norman said.

Health officials have been asked if schools will distribute the vaccine, and theyve said its unlikely because parents or guardians must be present for a minor to be vaccinated, Cerniglia said.

Schools also already have in place a process for parents to opt their children out of vaccines, and Cerniglia believes that may be the case for the coronavirus vaccine as well.

Melissa Emery, an Ann Arbor single mother of two, questions the safety of the vaccine and said she will not be taking it or giving it to her children.

They dont know the long-term effects of it, Emery said. I will never, never get that vaccine.

Emery believes it will be years before health experts know the real effects of the vaccine.

I dont think its the panacea that maybe a lot of people think its going to be, Emery said. Its not the holy grail.

John Helmholdt, Grand Rapids Public Schools spokesman, said parents can opt their child out of the vaccine, when it becomes available. And, if parents decide not to get vaccinated themselves, their children will not be limited to online school, he said.

We certainly are not going to penalize a student if and when the vaccine may be available if their parents choose not to, Helmholdt said.

The districts focus today is on rapid testing sites for educators and other GRPS staff, Helmholdt said. The district will return to hybrid in-person classes on Jan. 19, after spending the first half of the school year in virtual mode.

Grand Rapids school leaders hope the vaccine could be available for staff as early as mid to late January, Helmholdt said. But mitigation strategies such as social distancing will still be required when students return to school on in January.

Marcus Cheatham, Mid-Michigan District Health Department health officer, said the department does not give legal advice to schools and businesses, including whether or not they should mandate that personnel get the vaccine.

We are not advocates for anyone requiring it, Cheatham said. But if you dont want to get sick, get this vaccine.

To help you navigate this complicated fall, were pleased to offer you a simpler way to get all of your education news: Our new Michigan Schools: Education in the COVID Era newsletter delivered right to your inbox. To receive this newsletter, simply click here to sign up.

Also on MLive:

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COVID-19 vaccine is not a golden ticket to normalcy in Michigan schools - yet - MLive.com