Desert Healthcare District and Desert Sands Unified School District join forces to offer COVID-19 vaccine to 15,000 DSUSD students

A new partnership between the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation and Desert Sands Unified School District, with the support of Rite Aid Pharmacies, will soon make COVID-19 vaccines available to 15,000 students in middle and high school.

Starting Tuesday, May 25, Desert Sands students who are 12- to 17-years-old will receive the Pfizer vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the vaccine for emergency use for anyone 12 and older. For students to receive the vaccine, a parent or guardian is required to complete a consent form, accompany the student to the vaccination clinic, and provide a form of identification (student ID card is fine) and an insurance card if applicable.

First and second doses will be provided over the next several weeks at mobile clinics set up at multiple school campuses. Each site will have about 1,500 doses. Students’ eligible family members and other Coachella Valley residents also can register to receive the vaccine. In addition to Pfizer, the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine will be available for adults.

“Our collaboration with Desert Sands Unified School District and Rite Aid Pharmacies is a crucial step toward reducing the impact of COVID-19 in the Coachella Valley,” said Conrado Bárzaga, Desert Healthcare District and Foundation CEO. “By bringing the vaccine to middle and high school students and their families, we are giving families the power to protect themselves from this pandemic and contributing to population immunity so that our entire community can thrive once again.”

Scott L. Bailey, Desert Sands Unified School District Superintendent of Schools, added, “Our partnership with Desert Healthcare District moves us one step closer to the ultimate goal of safely resuming daily in-person learning and activities this fall.”

Vaccine appointments can be made for any school, not just the student’s home school. The first vaccination clinics will take place:

Tuesday, May 25 (and June 15)

Desert Ridge Academy
79-767 Avenue 39
Indio
Noon – 3 p.m.

Palm Desert Charter Middle School
74-200 Rutledge Way
Palm Desert
5 – 8 p.m.

Register for the vaccine and see the full list of vaccination clinics here.

 

 

 

Image Sources

  • Vaccination record card: Shutterstock