Grand Rapids Public Schools sets virtual panel to answer questions about youth COVID-19 vaccines

Vaccine

Grand Rapids Public Schools is hosting informational sessions for caregivers to learn more about youth COVID-19 vaccines. (MLive file photo)Sam Owens | MLive.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids Public Schools will host a virtual panel of local clinicians to answer questions from the community about youth COVID-19 vaccinations.

The GRPS Parent University and the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute partnered to organize the virtual informational events, which are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 26, according to a district announcement.

School leaders said the sessions will give GRPS caregivers “an opportunity to receive non-biased information about the COVID-19 youth vaccination” in a Q&A format.

“GRPS and the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute are working together to ensure every family feels informed about COVID-19 vaccinations for our youth,” the online announcement reads. “As we have lived through this pandemic together, we all know that there is a lot of information out there that can be overwhelming for parents/guardians.”

The panel of local clinicians will be available via Zoom, and links for the two meetings are available here.

Here is a list of the organizations that will be represented during the event:

  • Agnar Health Solutions
  • Center for Adolescent & Child Neurology
  • Cherry Street Health
  • Grand Rapids African American Health Institute
  • GRPS School Health Services
  • Kent County Health Department
  • Mercy Health
  • Mission Point Healthcare
  • Spectrum Health
  • University of Michigan Health West

In Michigan, about 41% of kids ages 12-15 have received a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 37% are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. For teens ages 16-19, 48% have initiated the COVID-19 vaccine process and 44% are fully vaccinated, data shows.

GRPS asks anyone with questions about the informational event to contact the GRPS Family and Community Engagement office by phone at 616-819-1977, or by email at parentengagement@grps.org.

More on MLive:

858 infected across 101 new COVID-19 outbreaks at Michigan schools

Combining routes, using vans among potential solutions to school bus driver shortage in Ann Arbor

Eastern Michigan University names dozens of COVID-19 vaccine lottery winners

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.