Texas AFT local unions have been holding dozens of free COVID-19 and flu vaccination clinics the past month, and flu vaccination clinics the past month, and with shots allowable expanding to aged 5-12 students, they are planning even bigger pushes to get kids vaccinated. Most of the clinics are staffed with union-member and school-district volunteers in partnership with health organizations.
Our Rio Grande Valley unions (McAllen, La Joya, Edinburg, PSJA, and Brownsville) have vaccinated hundreds of students and family members in the past month, with more clinics planned. Participants also were treated to free pizza at many of the clinics.
Socorro AFT in El Paso held its 11th vaccination clinic on Monday. A $17,500 grant from FirstBook also meant free books for students attending the clinic. “We know the safest way to have everyone in a classroom is to ensure that every student, teacher, and family member is vaccinated, so we are excited about now offering vaccinations to the younger kids—while also giving them the gift of new books,” said Veronica Hernandez, Socorro AFT president. “Our clinics are a great way to get the whole family motivated for vaccinations.”
The San Antonio Alliance partnered with San Antonio ISD to help staff Community Town Halls that served as vaccination clinics at local schools. The union rallied its members to support the clinics and canvassed members and families to educate them about the events. These efforts all follow an intensive campaign by Texas AFT that started in the spring ensuring that all educators, students, and families were equipped with the resources they needed for vaccinations.