Lynwood Unified is partnering with St. John’s Well Child and Family Center for a collaboration that is bringing access to the COVID-19 vaccine to employees of the District and the City of Lynwood, and will ultimately vaccinate community residents at Lynwood Unified facilities.
On March 15, Lynwood Unified and St. John’s opened up Firebaugh High School as a vaccination site to serve District employees. Dedicated St. John’s staff greeted visitors in the Firebaugh High School gymnasium where they received their first doses of the vaccine.
Lynwood Unified staff members are able to electronically sign up for an appointment days in advance and do not need health insurance to qualify. The FHS site has the capacity to serve 250 visitors per day.
“This is a critical service for Lynwood and one that we’re pleased to offer alongside St. John’s Well Child and Family Center,” LUSD Superintendent Gudiel R. Crosthwaite said. “Our community has been hit particularly hard by COVID-19, so it was important we acted quickly to deliver convenient access to the vaccine.”
The District is expecting to soon announce the availability of the vaccine at Firebaugh High School to the general Lynwood community as it prepares to reopen elementary schools for families who wish to return their children to in-person instruction.
Los Angeles County announced in late February that all education employees are eligible to be vaccinated, and 10 percent of available doses are reserved for the education sector; 900 vaccines are guaranteed for LUSD employees.
Lynwood Unified’s partnership with the county has resulted in more than 1,000 dedicated appointments for LUSD staff at county vaccination pods. With Firebaugh now serving as a vaccination pod, the District is anticipating a substantial increase in vaccinated staff members.
Lynwood Unified and St. John’s have a long history of successful partnership, and the health provider is also a part of the District’s Health Collaborative which provides resources and support services for the physical, mental, and socioemotional wellness of students and families.