During the past month, news of COVID vaccines from Moderna and Pzfizer has spread rapidly.
On December 11, the FDA issued the first emergency use authorization in history for the vaccine known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. Soon after, on December 18, the FDA issued the second EUA for the vaccine known as the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.
Though many wish to receive the vaccine as soon as possible so that life can return to the way it was pre-pandemic, the vaccine will not be available to everyone immediately. Previously, within phase one of the vaccination outline, frontline workers: third-priority groups, were given the vaccine. Beginning the week of January 18, the current priority group will be vaccinated.
“There’s a vaccine on the horizon, but we don’t know how quickly that is going to be available to everybody. It could be as late as the summer before the students are able to take it. It does look like teachers, and educators will get it sooner, which is great, but it doesn’t mean that all the kids will get it before, which is also challenging. Even if everything goes perfectly, with the timeline that Governor Baker put out yesterday, it will still take several months to a year,” said Dr. Jaimie Chisum, principal of the high school.
With hesitant and unclear dates of when students and school will receive the vaccine, students are encouraged to participate in the testing program and continue following the COVID safety regulations.
“I would love to be in the place where the vaccine got us to normal school. But in the meantime, we still got to do our testing, because it’s still going to be what helps keep us open.”