Austin Schools Get COVID-19 Vaccines Into Arms: Schools help promote vaccination while addressing community hesitancy – News
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Austin Public Health Nurse Camille Compton (right) speaks to a community member at the Guerrero Thompson Elementary Vaccine Clinic on Thursday, May 27 (Photo by Jana Birchum)
When Daysi Moreno stood in the half-built house at her construction site, she knew she had to get the COVID-19 vaccine. She always wore a face mask at work, encouraged by her children, who drove her home with questions: “How often have you changed your mask? Who worked with you And yet, although many of Moreno’s employees have contracted COVID-19, dozens of people on the construction site did not wear masks.
Moreno was worried about her health.
However, Moreno was also concerned about possible side effects of the vaccine and sought advice from Claudia Villarreal, a counselor at Austin ISD’s Guerrero Thompson Elementary School. Moreno’s son, José, an artistic and shy sixth grader from Kealing Middle School, is an alum of Guerrero Thompson; her daughter Sophia, an outspoken boy scout, is a fourth grader there.
As the leader in Guerrero Thompson’s efforts to get out of sight since January, Villarreal understood Moreno’s questions and concerns. She reassured Moreno about the side effects, shared her own vaccination experience, and helped schedule a time after work to get the vaccination.
“I had some doubts because this is new to everyone,” said Moreno, who was vaccinated in April. “But I trust them.”
Moreno is one of 255 people vaccinated with the help of Guerrero Thompson and his clinic providers including Ascension Seton, Travis County Health and Human Services, and Austin Public Health. With schools across Austin promoting vaccination, Guerrero Thompson’s efforts stand out. Nearly 30% of the residents of the school’s zip code, 78753 in north central Austin, are infected with the 1st virus, according to the Texas Department of Health. Even so, the school has drawn students, parents, in-laws, co-workers and neighbors for their admission to the school.
Guerrero Thompson’s success is based on years of collaborative work, said headmistress Briana Garcia. The staff have developed a relationship with the families so they can take care of everything from the side effects of the vaccine to misinformation being shared on social media. Good-natured humor can help too – Villarreal reassured some fathers who were concerned about the syringe that if they are afraid of needles, “your child must hold your hand”. The staff are also ready to translate and organize the logistics for those who register for a vaccine.
“For these families we serve, we have become a point of contact for many things,” said Villarreal. “We are their point of contact when our children need clothing, we are their point of contact when they need help with the translation of legal documents. And so I think it’s very natural for them that this comes next, that is the school will do next. “
When the school community struggled with food insecurity at the beginning of the pandemic, Guerrero Thompson teachers donated money to buy groceries for families, including Morenos. When José had a tonsillectomy, his teachers stopped by frequently to keep him updated on class life. During the winter storm Uri called “every single teacher” to make sure Moreno’s family was safe. And it was this care in the community that made Moreno trust the vaccine again, get colleagues to get their vaccination at the school, and José sent to get his as soon as possible.
“If I’ve ever called them and told them we have run out of food or something is wrong with one of the kids, I know they’ll be here as soon as possible,” said Moreno. “It’s a great relief. I don’t even know how to explain. It’s like having my mother or sister right next to me and they help me. “
A version of this article appeared in print on June 4, 2021, with the headline, “I Trust Them”: Austin Schools Get COVID-19 Vaccines Their Arms
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