OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Oshkosh Area School District is making an effort to get kids 5 through 11 years old vaccinated.
Nine-year old Ashton Vang is a third grader in the Oshkosh school district and got his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine during a clinic hosted by OASD.
“I knew it was gonna be good for me,” said Vang. “Because it will help me fight off COVID.”
Ashton’s mom, Zong Vang, tells FOX 11 it was an easy decision to go get her youngest son vaccinated, saying it’s no different than getting your annual flu shot.
“I do think when his older brothers got it there were lots of questions, so it’s just taking that time to explain things and explain to him that it’s going to be helpful and help reduce the risk of getting sick.”
Department of Health Services Secretary designee Karen Timberlake says the state is seeing high demand in getting younger kids vaccinated, saying they’re in the “tens of thousands” of Wisconsinites ages 5 to 11 getting vaccinated. The age group just became eligible earlier this month. The state is not yet reporting vaccine data for this age group yet.
“Get the facts from medical professionals and get your questions answered,” said Timberlake. “It’s perfectly ok to have questions but it’s important to go to healthcare professionals in your life to get those questions answered.”
The state says one of the highest rates of transmission is between kids 5 to 11 years old, which is why they’re encouraging them to come out to clinics like the one at OASD and get vaccinated.
“Some of the higher rates of new infections were in kids because kids were not eligible to be vaccinated,” said Timberlake.
Oshkosh school district’s superintendent says the vaccine is not a requirement for their students. The district has not discussed how getting more students vaccinated could change COVID-19 protocols.
“Our focus now is just on accessibility being able to provide accessibility for all families and especially younger kids now who haven’t had that opportunity,” said superintendent Bryan Davis.
Oshkosh school district will be revisiting its mask policy in the next couple of months.
Oshkosh school district partnered with the Winnebago County Health Department to host the vaccine clinics. More than 150 doses were given at the first clinic.
For more information on how to register for a vaccine in Winnebago County, click here.
Comments