Poly Prep took another critical step in school safety, making it easier for our students ages 16+ to get a COVID vaccination by hosting a Pop-Up Pfizer Vaccine Clinic on April 24. This may be the only on-site high school vaccination clinic for students in New York City, so far.

Dr. Sara Ahmed P’33 partnered with Poly and a local pharmacy to present the clinic, at which 31 students and four employees received vaccine doses on the patio outside the nurses’ office. The school had the exact number of doses we needed and no doses were wasted. Dr. Ahmed and the office manager from her practice volunteered their time for the clinic.

At another clinic on April 9, 20 Poly employees received the Moderna vaccine.

“We hope to be a part of a growing school-based vaccine effort that will make schools safer and can also play an important role in New York CIty’s ground game effort to get every eligible person vaccinated.”

Director of Health and Well-being Sarah Zuercher NP P’24, ’27  invited students to register for the vaccine in advance. “Offering the vaccine right here at Poly helps overcome the barriers that some of our kids face, such as a parent needing to take a day off from work to visit a clinic. We are so grateful to Dr. Ahmed and the local pharmacy for making this possible,” she said. “We hope to be a part of a growing school-based vaccine effort that will make schools safer and can also play an important role in New York CIty’s ground game effort to get every eligible person vaccinated.”

Parents or guardians could accompany students, fill out consent forms in advance of the clinic, or provide parental consent by phone at the time of the vaccine administration. Health Team members Nurse Theresa O’Sullivan, Coach Renae Beauchman, and Coach Mike Junsch were critical to making the clinic a success, by assisting people in completing health forms, calling parents to gather consent, and handing out lollipops. As with older vaccine recipients, the students were asked to sit for 15 minutes to be monitored for any side effects after vaccination. Afterward, Zuercher said, “The students were very brave—some said this was the first time they got a shot without a parent with them to hold their hand.”

More than 90% of faculty and staff at Poly have been vaccinated; adding eligible students to this group increases safety for everyone at Poly. At this time, the Pfizer vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine that has been studied and authorized for use in the 16+ population. The CDC announced on April 27 ways in which fully vaccinated people can enjoy more activities, especially outside.

Parents Are Grateful for the Convenience

Parents were very grateful to Poly for offering this convenient way for students to get vaccinated.

“Thanks to you and everyone else who had a hand in putting this together,” Karen, a parent of a Grade 11 student, wrote to Zuercher. “[My son] getting his vaccine at school is very much appreciated, so is all that you do.”

“Thank you for organizing this, Sarah!” wrote Ann-Marie, the mother of a Grade 12 student. “Super helpful and important. Really appreciate it.”

Follow up clinics to administer second doses and distribute vaccine cards  are currently being scheduled for later this spring. Poly is also exploring the possibility of opening up their on-site clinics to local community members.