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Status Seeking

9/17/2021

3 Comments

 
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BY MATTHEW MERITT

Two private schools in the area are asking about student COVID vaccination status, both saying responses are optional.

One school says it is for planning and the other to prepare for potential quarantine requirements in the event of a close contact.
 
This information comes from letters to parents in September. It is unclear if the schools are being directed to collect information or elected to do so themselves. 
Editor's Note

I'm told at least one private high school in another state requires students to be vaccinated to attend class in person.

A local community college  is requiring students to be vaccinated. The timing of its announcement left students little opportunity to adjust before being responsible for tuition payment.
One of the schools' communications says students who are not vaccinated will be tested weekly once the testing procedure is set. The communication notes the school has already collected proof of vaccination from staff, citing the CDC, State Health Department and American Academy of Pediatrics as sources claiming vaccination is the best way to fight the virus. 
 
The other school’s note says vaccination information will not be shared, but explains it will assist the school and the county health department in determining quarantine requirements.
​Neither note seems to take prior infection into account as indication of immunity, though having had COVID is thought by some to provide stronger protection against infection than any of the available vaccines. 
 
Four area public school districts who responded to inquiries said they are not collecting vaccination information from students, with three noting they have not been asked to do so. These districts are Corning-Painted Post, Horseheads, Elmira and Elmira Heights.
 
One superintendent added the district plans to be able to refer students to places where they can be tested if they choose and asks those playing sports to fill out testing consent forms in an effort to keep athletic seasons going.
 
When asked about collection of data on COVID vaccine status, a Steuben official responded: “Steuben County Public Health is not asking schools to collect info on  whether students are vaccinated.”
 
An inquiry has also been e-mailed to the Chemung County Health Department. 
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3 Comments
Annie Brink
9/17/2021 02:39:35 pm

For those reading this that are saying to themselves, “if it’s optional, what’s the big deal?”, I would offer that medical decisions of an adult or a child should be private between that individual and their doctor. Some might say but to attend school our kids all need standard set of vaccines why can’t this be one of them? The scientific data does not cite any significant cases of illness or volume in children. If someone wants to vaccinate themselves or their child, they should have that power but to mandate it is wrong since each of us have varying medical histories. Lastly, vaccinated individuals are not immune to getting or spreading the disease so why are they given preferential treatment? Thanks for the blog post Matthew!

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Vicki Clark
9/17/2021 05:28:27 pm

Thank you for this update on our local schools. Families should have the freedom to make medical decisions without being threatened with testing or vaccinate mandates. The health of children is the responsibility of parents, not a school, state, or the federal government. We appreciate your efforts to keep the community informed, Matthew!

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Kristen link
10/27/2021 09:34:38 am

Thank you for sharing this information as a parent I am seeking any and all information about these mandates on our children and what my next step as a parent will be. Thank you, Matt 👏

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