Severna Park High School Hosts the Anne Arundel County Vaccination Clinic

Severna Park High School Hosts the Anne Arundel County Vaccination Clinic.

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Karli Kirchenheiter

SPHS was gracious enough to offer their space for the vaccination clinic, which took place in the main gym and throughout classrooms on the bottom floor.

Karli Kirchenheiter, Staff Writer

Severna Park High School (SPHS) is the main and only site for the Anne Arundel County (AAC) Vaccination Clinic. AAC Fire Department has partnered with the school system to administer vaccines to as many as 14,000 individuals so that they can safely return to teaching in hybrid schools, beginning Feb. 11 to April 8 for faculty and staff from all over the county.

The school system has been held to high praise for their work organizing the clinic. It has taken away stress and frustration many go through when searching and signing up for a vaccine. Teachers received an email with a date and time slot to sign up for their vaccine. 

“Once I finally got the email, everything was smooth sailing. The clinics themselves were VERY well run. Fast and efficient,” social studies teacher Trevor Bryden said.

In addition, doses were not wasted, instead given to staff.  Special education resource teacher for Meade, Constantina Miller, received one of the extra doses. Miller said it was very easy, when they had extra doses she was simply texted to go to the school. However, some teachers did not feel as comfortable waiting around for an email from the school so they took action to get the vaccine on their own. Health tTeacher Courtney Koehler was worried that being part time she probably would have received an email to sign up last. Koehler took initiative to get her vaccine as soon as possible, even if it meant driving to a CVS in Ocean City.

“The vaccine being offered was very important for my wanting to return to school.  I have a three year old son and we see my parents a lot, we had already discussed that if I was back in school around so many people without the vaccine, that I wouldn’t be able to see my parents until they or I had the vaccine,” Koehler said.

Being vaccinated has given teachers a feeling of slightly more safety and comfort in a school full of kids. However, Bryden said he would have preferred to have gotten his vaccine before the kids came back, considering he got his second dose March 18, 10 days after the freshman and seniors came in. Teachers having their vaccine is only the first step, we must continue on this path.

“I do feel a bit safer but much of that is dependent on others doing the right thing as well. A vaccination isn’t a ticket to be irresponsible toward others,” social studies teacher Tim Dunbar said.