Mesa Public Schools, Mesa Fire partner to provide COVID-19 vaccines

PHOENIX — Mesa Public Schools is offering COVID-19 vaccines this week at several of its campuses in partnership with the Mesa Fire and Medical Department.

Last week, just under 2,000 people were vaccinated at three different high schools within the district. The goal is to vaccinate just as many this week. Vaccinations will take place at Mesa High School on Tuesday and Skyline High School on Wednesday.

“Anybody that works in Mesa Public Schools, the charters or the private schools in Mesa is our target audience,” Mesa Fire and Medical Department Capt. Michelle Denton told KTAR News 92.3 FM. “And then anyone 75 or above that are also working for the city of Mesa.”

Denton added police officers are also able to get vaccinated at their public points of dispensing, also known as PODs. For her, fighting off the coronavirus has become a personal mission.

“My whole family had COVID-19,” she said. “My daughter was in the hospital for pneumonia. So it is personal, and I really hope that we can make an impact.”

On Monday, the first doses of the Moderna vaccine were offered at Red Mountain High School. That’s where seventh grade social studies teacher Nicole Forster, who teaches her students in person, got her vaccine.

“I do feel a sense of relief continuing the school year knowing that I’m protected and that I’m protecting my family as well,” she said.

Miguel Flores, a bus driver for Mesa Public Schools, also got vaccinated at Red Mountain High School. He called the vaccine an armor that’ll protect him from getting the coronavirus and passing it on to his family.

“There are kids on the bus that don’t want to listen and don’t want to put on their masks,” he said. “That’s kind of scary because you never know when you’re going to get the virus and bring it home.”

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