Salem Schools Confirms Vaccine Clinics; 2 Classrooms Go Remote

SALEM, MA — Salem Public Schools confirmed several vaccination clinics over the next two weeks, while anticipating even more clinics for students ages 5 to 11 years old, as the district deals with a bump in coronavirus cases.

The district conducted two clinics with Mass General Brigham at Bentley and Carlton this week with another scheduled for Saltstonall — with all slots filling up within 18 minutes on Tuesday — on Saturday. Along with Fallon Ambulance vaccination clinics run with the state vaccine allocation, the district intends to have first-dose vaccinations at all schools scheduled before Thanksgiving.

"We do continue to have cases throughout the schools," Superintendent of Schools Steve Zrike said on Wednesday. "We've had a number of cases since Halloween. And this week we've had a higher case count than previous weeks. It's not surprising. It's very disappointing given that the vaccine is now available. The timing never seems to be right with this virus."

Zrike said two more classrooms were closed this week at Carlton. The district puts a class in quarantine if there are three or more students or staff within the classroom who test positive for the virus.

"That's the guidance we received from the Board of Health," Zrike said. "Not every other community is following that. We've been following that guidance from our local Board of Health.

"We continue to see case counts. Some breakthrough cases but many of unvaccinated students. That's why, again, the vaccine is so important."

Of the upcoming clinics, some will be pediatric (one-third Pfizer) doses for those 5 to 11 years old, some will be full doses for 12 and older, and some will be a combination of both.

Families are also encouraged to arrange for vaccinations through their pediatricians and local pharmacies.

The following clinics are Mass General Brigham clinics with 30 to 60 doses per clinic. Students receiving doses at these clinics will need a signed paper consent form. Parental and guardian presence for the shot is optional.

The district has confirmed clinics at Bates Elementary School on Nov. 16 from 7:30 to 9 a.m., Horace Mann School on Nov. 19 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and Salem High School (full dose only) on Nov. 19 from 9 to 11 a.m. The district is waiting for confirmation on a Saltonstall clinic on Nov. 17 from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

The following are Fallon Ambulance clinics through the state. These clinics have larger capacity with electronic consent allowed through ParentSquare.

A pediatric dose clinic will be held at Witchcraft Heights on Nov. 19 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Appointments will be available to Witchcraft families first, then opened to the greater community.

A pediatric clinic is also confirmed for Collins Middle School on Nov. 19 from 1 to 5 p.m.

An adult-dose clinic is awaiting confirmation at Collins on Nov. 19 from 2 to 5 p.m. Those seeking an appointment at this clinic should register here.

A pediatric dose clinic is confirmed for Saltonstall School on Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. open to all Salem students ages 5 to 11.

Second-dose clinics will be held three weeks later at the same location and time.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)