State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Appeals Directly to Families on Vaccine Importance for Students and Schools

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond penned a letter addressed to California parents and guardians encouraging them to make getting the COVID-19 vaccination a priority as students return to in-person classrooms this month. State Superintendent Thurmond stressed that vaccines are safe, effective, free, and given to all individuals living in the U.S. regardless of insurance or immigration status. In his appeal that will be shared with families through school districts and by parent engagement partners, he reminded parents and guardians that vaccine clinics are convenient; without need for appointment, as many school districts hold walk-in clinics for staff, students, and families; and are also available at retail locations, community clinics, and elsewhere.

“Please help us protect your child, their teacher, and every student by getting vaccinated today,” Thurmond wrote in his letter to parents and guardians. “We encourage you and everyone in your family who is twelve and older to get vaccinated—it can save lives.”

In recent weeks, Thurmond has been beating the drum on the importance of vaccines through a series of virtual webinars, town halls, and school site and vaccine clinic visits to urge schools and communities to get as many eligible teens and adults vaccinated as possible against a backdrop of surging cases associated with the Delta variant. The letter to California parents and guardians about vaccine effectiveness and its importance to opening schools and keeping them open is one more way Thurmond continues to keep the message at the forefront of his work.

“There is nothing more important now. I am using every ounce of energy I can to continue to shout this from the rooftops: I want every parent and guardian out there to think hard about why they have been happy to see our communities open up,” said Thurmond. “To be able to hug loved ones, to gather again, this is because of the public health measures that were put in place and the efforts to vaccinate as many people as possible.”

To find a vaccine clinic near you, visit the California Department of Public Health My Turn website or call 1-833-422-4255 to make your appointment or find a walk-in clinic today.

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Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100