PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia’s effort to inoculate teachers, principals, and staff of all schools is now underway with the launch of an initial clinic at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Roberts Center for Pediatric Research.

The program will continue in coming weeks and expand to pop-up clinics located in school buildings throughout the city. Vaccinations are available under this program to staff of all District, charter, independent and parochial schools, as well as at childcare centers and pre-K providers.

“The launch of this vaccination program is an important addition to extensive work the School District, charter schools, and childcare providers have already undertaken to safely reopen classrooms throughout Philadelphia,” said Mayor Kenney. “As we approach the one-year anniversary of our public schools moving to virtual learning, getting our children back into schools for in-person learning is paramount. We are extremely thankful for the support of everyone at Children’s Hospital in this effort.”

“Today, and every day, we are committed to supporting the needs of all those who care for children,” said Ron Keren, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “As healthcare providers, we look forward to providing COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible school personnel and aiding the City in this important effort.”

“We are thankful for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health for their assistance with getting School District of Philadelphia personnel access to COVID-19 vaccinations,” said Superintendent William R. Hite, Jr., Ed.D. “These vaccines are another layer of safety to the measures we’ve already put in place District-wide such as social distancing, wearing a mask, regular hand sanitizing and washing, and rapid testing for students and staff. We hope our employees choose to get vaccinated to create a safer and healthier environment for themselves, their families, our students and our colleagues.”

For more information about the vaccination program, please visit: chop.edu/covid-19-vaccine-program/school-personnel.

Over the next several months, all Philadelphians will begin to have access to vaccine based on a phased schedule of priority populations. The schedule was determined by the City’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee (VAC), and has been informed by continuing discussions of the City’s Coronavirus Interim Racial Equity Plan. This approach prioritizes populations at high-risk of acquiring infection, transmitting infection to vulnerable persons, or suffering severe consequences of infection. The program is currently in Phase 1b, which includes teachers and school staff, as well as:

• Frontline workers at high risk for exposure who perform essential duties.
• Persons working and residing in congregate settings.
• Persons 75 years and older.
• Persons with high-risk medical conditions.

Under Phase 1c, vaccine will be available to other essential workers with lower risk of exposure and persons 65-74 years. Under Phase 2, vaccine will be available to all individuals 16 years and older not previously immunized. The start dates for those phases have not yet been determined and will depend on vaccine availability.