An Iowa parent is concerned how a COVID vaccine clinic at a high school gym was promoted and conducted, even though public health officials told The Iowa Standard all minors vaccinated received parental consent.
The Mitchell County Public Health Department hosted a COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at the Osage Community High School Gym from 2-6 p.m.
The clinic was promoted as being open to the public for anyone 12 years old or older. No appointments were necessary, anyone could just walk in to receive the vaccine.
Parents were sent a message about the clinic letting them know to fill out the consent form and send it with the child on Wednesday.
“Vaccine is free of charge. We will be coming back to the school on Sept. 21, 2021 to administer the second dose of the vaccine. Please make sure to bring back your vaccine card for the second dose. The school will be sending out a reminder to students/families for the second dose along with the consent form to be filled out prior.”
These forms were attached:
The concerned parent who reached out to The Iowa Standard said their daughter told them on Tuesday, Aug. 31 that the teacher mentioned the school would have a COVID vaccine clinic at school in the gym the next day.
The next day, the parent received a text from their daughter saying people are being vaccinated. According to the daughter, it was being announced on the PA system that kids would go to the gym by grade level and receive the vaccine.
“She told me it sounded like you have to get it,” the parent said. “Like all freshman go to the gym. It was never worded if you have your signed parent consent form come to the gym for freshmen.”
The parent went to the school and said they were worried about their daughter accidentally getting the shot, so the student would be checked out for the rest of the day.
The school secretary told the parent consent forms would be needed and were sent out on Thursday, Aug. 26.
When asked why the clinic was behind held at the school, the secretary told the parent there are too many people who want the shot and the clinic could not support the numbers.
“I guess the school was the only place they could find,” the parent said. “I asked why couldn’t they of done it at the park, a church — anywhere else. And, why during school hours?”
The public was allowed to go in from 2-6 p.m. The parent asked why kids were lining up to get it and the secretary said they could get the shot if they wanted it.
The parent’s daughter said she never saw anyone with forms signed by parents or any parents with kids. The daughter said the language used came across as “you need to get it.”
“I asked if they’re giving our informed information to the students of all the adverse reactions,” the parent said. “I just looked over all the forms. There’s not much mentions of adverse reactions. She said she didn’t know about that.”
The family just moved to Iowa from California out of concern for the way things are being handled in California.
“We don’t have a public health office giving shots out at school in California,” the parent said. “The school acted like they didn’t know much about the stabs. Someone had to have approved the health office to be at the school. I just don’t understand if it wasn’t to get the kids; why not do it on weekends when the kids are not there.”
Mitchell County Public Health had posted this image, but has since removed it:
“Public Health took down their post,” the parent said. “If they weren’t being sketchy why take it down?”
The Iowa Standard reached out to the Mitchell County Public Health Department. They said all minors who were vaccinated at the clinic had parental consent.
We asked why the post was taken down promoting the clinic, but the woman said she wasn’t the person who handles social media.
We’re awaiting a call back from the Osage superintendent to get the school’s perspective.
