Covid Vaccine Available Here at Howard High School

by Radaesia Williams

Howard High School and the Department of Health have joined forces to provide vaccines and booster shots to protect our high school students and staff, along with members of the community.

Students ages 17 and older can sign their own paperwork, while anyone younger will have to have a parent there or written parental permission and consent.

Dexter Sharpner, a nurse from CORE, recently came out to Howard to administer Covid vaccines and boosters in our media center. On that day, the group offered both the Moderna and Pfizer shots.

According to Nurse Sharpner, people coming out for shots should bring their vaccination card, but keeping up with the card can be frustrating.

Fortunately, because of the GRITS (Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions & Services) program available through Georgia, the CORE staff can see online which shots you have had and still need.

Sharpner encourages students, staff, and family members to take the vaccine because “it helps the entire community, not just yourself.”

He expressed his particular concern for “grandparents, parents, and children” since students are more susceptible to the Omicron version of the virus and may easily spread it to others.

With the rising Covid-19 cases in the area, a lot of people are still on edge, which is why Sharpner believes the CDC’s recommendations are a “good guideline to follow.”

“One thing about it is [if] you are vaccinated and attract the new one, you’re in better shape to be able to survive and really not have to be hospitalized, but if you are unvaccinated there’s a strong possibility that you can be hospitalized if you catch the current variant that we have out,” Sharpner said.

The next vaccine clinic is February 16th, 3:30- 6:00 pm. As required, after the vaccination, you have to stay at least 15 minutes to monitor symptoms.

We hope to see you there!