Teen vaccinations to be held at Hurley school

HURLEY — The Iron County Health Department will be conducting a student COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Friday at Hurley K-12 School.

The health department will be administering the Pfizer vaccine to students age 16 or older who wish to receive the vaccine, according to a post on the school district’s Facebook page on Tuesday. Parents were sent a survey about the service and were contacted by the health department to schedule a vaccination if they wished.

The health department and the school district understand that this is a personal choice, said Kevin Genisot, Hurley School District administrator.

“We want to simply inform all parents about the availability and offer of having their child receive the Pfizer vaccine if they so choose,” he said.

The health department has been a resource and partner with the Hurley School since the start of the pandemic, Genisot said. The partnership and advice from current health officer, Katie Hampston, and previous health officer, Zona Wick, who is now assisting the department during the pandemic, has helped the school navigate the controversy, the unknowns and the political upheaval, he said.

“The Iron County Health Department could not have been any more accommodating and for this, the entire school community is very grateful,” Genisot said. “The Iron County Health Department is the best you’d ever find throughout the state of Wisconsin.”

There are just over six weeks of school remaining for the school year, he said. The year so far has been successful and uneventful with in-classroom learning throughout due to a “fantastic school staff, understanding parents and students, as well as a solid plan in partnership with the county health department.”

—Tom LaVenture