COVID-19 Vaccination in Catholic Schools

Breaking News

  • May 23, 2002: Children Ages 5 to 11 Now Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters.

    NYC children 5-11 who had the second dose of the vaccine at least five months ago should start receiving the Pfizer booster. Visit nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or call 877-VAX4NYC for a site. Unvaccinated children should start the COVID-19 vaccine primary series now. Health Department reminds parents and caregivers to maintain routine childhood vaccinations. Click here to view the full press release, issued today.

  • December 20, 2021: Young New Yorkers Are Encouraged to Get Vaccinated. As of November 3, 2021, children ages 5 – 11 are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and will protect New York’s children and adolescents from the virus. COVID-19 vaccines have undergone – and will continue to undergo – the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. Young New Yorkers 5 – 17 can receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Click here to find information and resources including frequently asked questions and answers, resources, and scheduling information for each eligible age group.
  • December 15, 2021: NYC Department of Health Issues Vaccine Update for NYC Families — Click here to view and download this update!
  • November 3, 2021 — Click here for an Important Vaccination Update for Catholic School Families
  • FDA Update — August 23, 2021: The FDA has announced the full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals age 16 and older COVID vaccines are widely available at pharmacies, local health departments, clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers and other locations across the state. Visit Vaccines.gov to find appointments near you or contact your local pharmacy or provider. Click here for more info.
  • NYC DOH Update — Monday, August 9 is the last day for children 12 and older to get the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine to be fully vaccinated by school opening on September 13! Click here to read the full NYC-DOH Letter to Parents!!
  • Click here to see a letter imparting the good news that all New Yorkers aged 12 and older can now receive a COVID-19 vaccine. If you have a child who is at least 12 years old, the letter strongly encourages you to get them vaccinated as soon as possible. To find a site near you visit nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or call 877-VAX-4-NYC (877-829-4692). Many sites do not require an appointment. Click here to view the letter in Spanish.

Learn More About COVID-19 Vaccines

  • NEW! Two more sources of information about COVID-19:
    • Mayo Clinic: Get the Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines: click here.
    • John Hopkins: COVID-19 Vaccines — Myths vs. Facts: click here.
  • Click here to see a letter with updated guidance regarding use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for adolescents 12-15 years of age from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, including information regarding coadministration of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 vaccines and guidance about obtaining consent for persons younger than 18 years of age.
  • NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene Expands COVID-19 Vaccination Eligibility to New Yorkers Aged 16 and Older: Click here for to view this update.
  • Click here to access a new video: What to Know about Children, Vaccines and Variants, presented by Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School for Public Health
  • Click here for answers to Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Click here to view a video presentation by Torian Easterling, MD, MPH, as he discusses what you need to know about COVID-19 vaccines
  • Teachers & education workers eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in NY as part of Phase 1B. Click here to read more. Since times will be limited due to the number of people getting vaccines, all teachers who have an appointment during the school day will be allowed to leave/come in late without the use of a sick or personal day to get the vaccine.

What to Expect after Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine

COVID-19 Vaccination Updates

Haga clic aquí para la versión en español de este anuncio

Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory | The Year of St. Joseph

Dear Catholic School Communities,

I hope this letter finds you and your family well and safe. Like you, I continue to monitor with great interest the actions and reactions of government agencies in response to the ongoing COVID 19 public health crisis. In light of the current situation, it is gratifying to know that our Catholic schools continue to operate -as they have for 19 months- with virtually no transmissions within our buildings while maintaining and exceeding our high academic standards for all learners. Every step of the way, we have also strived to serve the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of everyone in our school communities.

As Superintendent of Schools, I must approach every critical decision guided by what is best for our children and staffs. Sometimes our school system finds itself bound by government mandates from the federal, state, or local levels. Indeed, many of the regulations and protocols that have served as our templates for being open for fully in-person instruction have been guided by government health officials.

As you know, the government has already granted vaccine approval for students ages 12 years and older, and has now determined the same for children 5-11 years old to receive the vaccine. Thus far, there have been no vaccine mandates for any students of any age in New York, and the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese have no plans to mandate vaccinations for any students unless there are government orders to do so.

The absence of government mandates means the decision to vaccinate your child remains solely at your discretion. Pope Francis has made it clear vaccinating is morally acceptable and that we have the moral responsibility to get vaccinated. Cardinal Dolan has said the same.

Just as you are your child’s primary teacher, you are their primary health care advocate. As such, I urge you to please discuss with your pediatrician to determine what is best for your child. Taking all of the above into consideration will ensure that you are making informed decisions as you exercise your own personal discretion.

Sincerely,

Mr. Michael J. Deegan
Superintendent of Schools
Archdiocese of New York

NYC DOHMH is excited to share that June 3rd to June 6th will be NYC Youth Vax Week!  The city will launch a series of virtual and in-person events for parents, youth, and educators. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and engage in dialogue with doctors and health professionals. The goal of this week of action is to increase confidence around the vaccine and respond to concerns people may have. In addition, the city will highlight Pfizer sites administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, the only vaccine currently authorized for use in youth ages 12-17.

Events are as follows:

Youth Vax Block Parties in all 5 boroughs: Citywide events will create opportunities for youth/families to engage with doctors and public health professionals at key vaccine sites to ask questions at locations with on-site vaccine availability.  Additionally, parties will feature free food, music, family activities, and resources provided by city agencies and CBOs.

Virtual Events: Workshops will focus on providing information to parents, youth, and educators about the COVID-19 vaccine

Promotion of Pfizer Vaccine Sites including pop-ups across the city (including beaches & iconic sites).

A detailed schedule of events can be found here. We encourage you to share this with your network and encourage youth and families to attend.

With your support, we can get the word out about the importance of vaccination for youth and families! Please find linked below flyers, informational content, a social media kit, and more that you can use this week.

  1. FAQs About COVID-19 Vaccines for Families
  2. Social Media Kit – use hashtags #IGotTheShotNYC and #NYCVaccineForAll
  1. How It Works – Infographic – Pfizer and Moderna
  2. Videos

Youth Vax Week is just the beginning! We will have more to share as we work to increase confidence around the vaccine for our youth and their families.

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Feast of the Baptism of our Lord

Dear Catholic School Principals, Teachers, School Aides, Teaching Assistants, Cafeteria Workers, Secretaries, Custodial Staff, and all School-Based Staff,

It is my pleasure to share the following update regarding COVID-19 vaccination efforts in New York State. After just receiving this information late this afternoon; we are providing this update.

Beginning January 11, 2021, New Yorkers in Phase 1B are eligible to include:

  • Teachers and education workers

Please use the NYS DOH “Am I Eligible” Tool to confirm your eligibility here: https://am-i- eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ The “Am I Eligible” Tool will then provide you with locations around the state where you can register to be vaccinated. You may also visit your county health department website.

In New York City, we have received the following websites: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccine-locations.page

NYC Vaccine Website: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccines.page

NYC Vaccine Finder: https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/

Vaccine supply continues to be in high demand, and appointments will fill up. If vaccine appointments at a given location or date are full, please continue to check back as more appointment slots come online and additional providers are added.

You may also wish to contact your doctor or any other location that is administering vaccines. Vaccines are not mandatory and a personal decision with your healthcare provider. After you register and prior to receiving the vaccination, you must complete the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Form. This form can be completed online and you will receive a submission ID, or you can fill out form at your vaccination site. The form can be found here: https://forms.ny.gov/s3/vaccine

We will continue to advocate for you and keep you updated as we receive information. Please feel free to visit our COVID-19 web page for updates. I appreciate your continued commitment to providing a Christ- centered, healthy and safe learning environment for our students.

Sincerely,

Mr. Michael J. Deegan
Superintendent of Schools
Archdiocese of New York

Visit our COVID-19 web page for more information relating to the Coronavirus.