Jersey City Schools Stress Vaccine Importance In Return Message

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Jersey City Schools Superintendent Franklin Walker stressed the importance of vaccinations before students come back to school in the fall. While the district is not mandating vaccines for students, Walker asked parents to "make every effort to get yourself and your children 12-years-old and above vaccinated."

To promote vaccinations, clinics will be hosted this week at the district's four big high schools, Dickinson, Ferris, Lincoln, and Academy I, next to Snyder. Everyone 12 or older who lives, works, or studies in New Jersey is now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in the state.

"Vaccines remain effective against the worst outcomes of COVID-19, including from the highly contagious Delta variant," Walker wrote in this week's Superintendent's message, "It is a safe way to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy."

Jersey City has seen 23 new COVID-19 cases within the last two weeks as of Sunday, according to data collected by the city. As of July 31, all of New Jersey's 21 counties except one have now entered "high" or "substantial" levels of coronavirus transmission, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meaning that the CDC wants residents in those counties to wear face masks again in indoor public settings — even if they've been vaccinated.

Jersey City schools are continuing to take their cue from the CDC while they wait on further guidance from the New Jersey Department of Education and are recommending masks in schools as part of the reopening plan. Masks are still are recommendation in the district, not a mandate.

According to the district, "The current Safe Return Plan calls for students and staff to wear a mask as one of the mitigation practices to lessen the spread of the COVID-19 virus. At this time our practices will require everyone to a mask as recommended. We also continue to promote to our families and staff to get vaccinated to stay safe."

Jersey City Public Schools plan on reopening in-person in the fall.

The district's senior leadership team has a town hall planned for parents the second and the last week of August to learn more about the routines and expectations for September. The first meeting will take place August 13 and links to the virtual meeting will be sent directly to families as well as published on the district website and Facebook page.

Jersey City has 1o vaccination sites within the city and two other sites in Kearny that accept Jersey City residents, all listed on the city website. You can call the city hotline to schedule an appointment for a vaccine at 201-373-2316. New Jersey recently added a "vaccine appointment finder" that can be seen here.

Have a news tip or a story that should be told? Email Samantha Mercado at samantha.mercado@patch.com.Keep up with the latest news in Jersey City and subscribe to Jersey City Patch.