West Hartford Public Schools students ages 16 and up can receive a COVID-19 vaccine at clinics arranged through UConn Health in Farmington.

By Ronni Newton

The principals of West Hartford’s Conard and Hall high schools announced late Friday that West Hartford Public Schools, in collaboration with the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District, has arranged clinics for students ages 16 and up to receive COVID-19 vaccines through UConn Health in Farmington.

Of the three vaccines authorized in the U.S., only the Pfizer-BioNTech has been approved for use at this time for those ages 16 and 17, and the Health District does currently have the ability to store that vaccine at the extremely cold temperatures it requires.

“UConn has agreed to do the West Hartford students,” Health Director Aimee Krauss said Thursday, with a Pfizer clinic to accommodate those who are 16 and 17. She said she worked with Superintendent Tom Moore and Assistant Superintendent for Administration Andy Morrow to schedule the clinic, and details were announced Friday.

“We know that many families are anxious to get high school students vaccinated and have been trying to book appointments at clinics and pharmacies, as vaccination is an important step towards normalcy for our school and our community. We are excited to share that West Hartford Public Schools and the West Hartford/Bloomfield Health District have arranged for 650 vaccination appointments at UConn Health in Farmington for WHPS students who are age 16+,” Conard Principal Julio Duarte and Hall Principal Dan Zittoun announced in a joint letter Friday.

Registration for the clinics, which are on April 21 and April 24, opened at noon on Saturday, April 10, and appointments are available on a first-come-first-served basis, only to West Hartford Public Schools students. Students who 18 or older are also eligible. Registration will close at noon on April 13.

Walk-ins will not be permitted, and students who are 16 or 17 must be accompanied by a guardian who is authorized to sign a “consent to treat” form.

Students should also bring identification (license or a school ID), which is a requirement of UConn Health, as well as their insurance card if they have coverage. No one will be turned away if they do not have insurance, the letter states.

To register, go to https://pickatime.com/whpscovid/StudentClinic and follow the steps to make an appointment. The times and spaces have been established by UConn Health. An email confirmation of the appointment will be sent via the Pickatime system.

The clinic is located at the UConn Health Outpatient Pavilion, 135 Dowling Way, Farmington. Parking is available in the garage, and from there students and their guardians should walk across to the first floor and follow signage to the clinic.

Students will have their second vaccine appointments scheduled for a special clinic at UConn Health as well.

For further information about the UConn Pfizer clinic and facts about vaccination can be found here.

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