In the schools: COVID testing, vax planning for ages 5-11
Posted on Oct 27, 2021 in Capitol Connection, Featured, Main
A staff member tests a student for COVID-19.
All K-12 schools statewide — public, private and charter — are eligible to enroll in the Operation Expanded Testing (OET) program, in partnership with the state Department of Health. The school-based program provides COVID-19 testing at no cost to students. Tests are administered by school staff, and parents are provided with a link to the test results, which are available approximately 48 hours later. To see which schools have registered to be trained or are already administering the program, go to https://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/ConnectWithUs/MediaRoom/PressReleases/Pages/COVID-screening-testing.aspx. Some neighbor island schools are also enrolled in an Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) test program administered by a healthcare provider.
Vaccines for children – The state is planning for Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control authorization for Pfizer vaccinations for children ages 5-11. The Department of Health is “working with our partners to make vaccination available in many different venues, including schools, pods, pharmacies and in health care providers’ offices,” said spokesman Brooks Baehr.