Below are some talking points about the COVID-19 vaccine that employees may find helpful if asked for information by students and/or families, especially about student vaccinations.

• The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now available to people age 16 and older. Since this announcement was made nationally, we have reached out to families via email to make them aware of Pfizer vaccination opportunities in Thurston County. There is also an article in the April issue of the district’s Spotlight on Success newsletter about upcoming student vaccination clinics that OSD is hosting, and a direct email was sent today (May 3, 2021) to families of students age 16 and up. If students approach you for information, you are welcome to share that the vaccine is now available for people 16 and older.
• You may also remind students that minors (16 and 17 years old) must receive parent or guardian consent to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This can be done when registering for an appointment or at the time of vaccination. Parents or guardians do not have to be present at the time of vaccination if they signed the consent form online during registration.
• Information on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines can be found on the Washington State Department of Health website.
• The best source for locating vaccine availability is the Washington State Department of Health Vaccine Locator. For the COVID-19 Information Hotline, dial 1-800-525-0127. Language assistance is available.