UPDATED: School Staff & Bus Drivers Get COVID Vaccine at Framingham Schools & Kennedy Health Center Clinic

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Editor’s Note: Vaccine numbers were added to the report at 11:22 a.m. on March 19

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FRAMINGHAM – A new partnership between the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center and the Framingham Public Schools created a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Fuller Middle School tonight, March 18.

In total, 112 Framingham Public Schools staff, including 29 bus drivers, were administered the first dose of the Moderna vaccine, by school health nurses and Kennedy staffers.

The second dose is scheduled for a clinic on April 16, said Framingham Superintendent of Schools Bob Tremblay.

“With help from School Committee Chair Adam Freudberg, we are able to offer a limited number of the Moderna two-dose COVID-19 vaccines to district employees,” announced Tremblay of the partnership on Tuesday afternoon, March 16.

About 48 hours after the announcements, more than 100 individuals with ties to the Framingham Public Schools had received the vaccine.

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“ With the assistance of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and HRSA, we are able to reach out beyond our doors to support this very important community effort,” said Stephen J. Kerrigan, President and CEO, Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center.

Bus drivers, although not Framingham Public Schools employees, were included in the effort, as the district needs bus drivers.

Durham School Services is providing far less than the needed number of bus drivers per its contact, and said about 10 bus drivers would return if they had the vaccine.

“Vaccination access for educators and bus drivers is an important component of school reopening so people can remain healthy and more confident, and in turn buildings and classrooms are more likely to remain open. The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center is stepping up for the Framingham Public Schools by expanding our existing partnership now to provide vaccines. A huge thank you to President & CEO Steve Kerrigan, health center staff, Superintendent Dr. Tremblay and the FPS COVID-19 team for making sure these new vaccine doses are offered to staff as soon as practical,” said District 4 School Committee member Freudberg, who is also chair of the 9-member School Committee.

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Teachers and school staff became eligible for the vaccine on March 11.

The Baker-Polito administration announced they are designating four weekend days for teachers, school staff and child care workers to receive the vaccine at the state’s seven mass sites, including the Natick Mall.

Those dates are Saturday, March 27, Saturday, April 3, Saturday, April 10, and Sunday, April 11. Up to 25,000 first-dose appointments will be available across those 7 sites.

The Massachusetts Education Commissioner has called for in-person learning of elementary students on April 5, and in-person learning of middle school students by April 28 throughout the state.

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