COVID-19 Vaccination Prioritizes Teachers Mikai Tasch
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ony Stillwater Area High School 5709 Stillwater Blvd N, Oak Park Heights, MN Mar. 12, 2020 Vol. 65 Issue 4 THE COVID-19 vaccination prioritizes Teachers Mikai Tasch “I have an additional line of defense against COVID, and also the thought of just How do Teachers feel after Getting their Vaccine? doing things that I have not done in, you know, over a How do Teachers feel after Getting their Vaccine? year like. Like, hug my parents you know when they are able to get the vaccine as well,” history teacher Ryan Miller said. Because many teachers, students and families want to go back to school, it has been important for teachers to get vaccinated all around the coun- try. Although the roll out of the vaccine has been slow to begin with around early January, it is picking up pace, which leads to the importance of schools reopening for in-person learning. According to the CDC, the “It was such a relief. “When I went in for my “...Mentally you can COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine is 95 percent effective after both Even though you still first shot, I was nervous. I take deep breath. You doses. With many teachers and families getting the vaccine, have to wear a mask it was so anxious I had to sit still have to wear a the transmission of COVID-19 will greatly be lowered. With feels as though we’re down for a bit after I got it. mask but it’s one last the transmission of COVID-19 lowered, normal activities can making the first steps But after I got over that, it thing to worry about.” resume, such as in-person learning. to returning to normal.” was a feeling of pure joy.” Junior Jana Myers explained how she thinks everyone should get vaccinated at one Laurie Hansen Mary Ticiu Dusty Dennis point so we can get back to normal, hopefully by the late summer or early fall. Furthermore, the vaccination process has been extremely fast and well thought out for many. COVID-19, meaning that your cause I cannot tell as well help lower infection rates of over. As in the game dominoes, Although there is a bit of body would actually be having on Zoom if they’re under- the original COVID-19 type, when one family member gets paperwork to fill out when a better reaction to the vaccine. standing,” Spanish teacher many variants have emerged COVID-19, others do too. arriving at the vaccination Miller talked about how Kirsten Carter said. “I am since, such as variants from “It was definitely a rough site, the actual process of he felt “a little bit more tired much more able to read that the United Kingdom and South experience, especially for my receiving the vaccine is fast. for the first 24 hours.” He in-person in class. It is also Africa. These variants are mom and I because we still Many have been impressed by was still able to do all the harder to tell their comfort known to spread quicker than do not have our taste or smell the efficiency at the vaccina- usual physical activities that level, and to give them the the original, and the various back. And it has been, I do tion site. he does such as running. reassurance and develop COVID-19 vaccines do not not even know, four months,” “I would say that I was very For many world language, that personal connection protect you from these variants Myers said. impressed by the number of music, and art teachers, COV- and the trust.” as much as the original. Many For many teachers, school volunteers who were working. I ID-19 has brought a struggle people’s views of the virus have has been a struggle, as they assume they are volunteers, but regarding how to teach a com- “It was definitely a changed from October to now. have had to reinvent learning. the number of people that were pletely different language, Carter explained how in Oc- The vaccine can change this helping with the vaccine distri- various musical techniques, rough experience, tober, scientists and medical by bringing another layer of bution and just how knowledge- or basic painting and drawing experts were still learning more protection against COVID-19. able everybody was on on where skills remotely on Zoom. The especially for my about treatments and were con- For the time being, make sure to go at the vaccination site, and vaccine will help students get cerned about the severity of it. to wear a mask and physically how helpful they were and how back to school so they are able mom and I be- Although it still can be severe for distance from people by staying smooth the whole operation was to learn in a normal way again. some people, it seems like they at least six feet apart. functioning,” Miller said. Many band, orchestra, and choir cause we still do are able to help more patients “I am very used to inter- With the first dose of the sectionals are starting to have more often. Now, the new COV- acting with all of my kids, vaccine, many do not have physically distanced in-person not have our taste ID-19 variants create a new level every hour, and that was not side effects, and if they do rehearsals already. of concern in a different way. the same, even in hybrid this have side effects, they are “The fact that I teach a or smell back.” Finally, the vaccine will help year. That is the one thing that very subtle. With the second class, almost entirely in a prevent various COVID-19 out- weighs most heavily on me, dose, however, some have different language is cra- Kirsten Carter breaks among family members. that I am not able to read their reported side effects such as zy. Usually, I am able to do Throughout the COVID-19 body language. I am not able to swelling, mild fevers, fatigue, class 99% in Spanish, but Although the various COV- period, it has been known try and express just that warmth and aches. Many of these now I find myself needing ID-19 vaccines such as Pfizer that COVID-19 can strike a of, you know, being close to side effects are symptoms of to use more English be- and Moderna vaccines can family like dominoes falling each other,” Carter said. Check out our social media accounts @sahsponyexpress @StillwaterPE Discover a student whose Find students opinions on the PHOTO CREDIT Stillwater Pony discovering his passion for increased minimum wage PAGE KICKER Express Download our app, Snowboarding Page 8 availible on the iTunes PAGE 4 and Google Play stores 2 March 12, 2021 - The Pony Express News Teachers return to school vaccinated been impressed by the effi- “The fact that I teach a ciency at the vaccination site. class, almost entirely in a “I would say that I was different language is cra- very impressed by the number zy. Usually, I am able to do of volunteers who were work- class 99% in Spanish, but ing. I assume they are volun- now I find myself needing to teers, but the number of peo- use more English because I ple that were helping with the cannot tell as well on Zoom vaccine distribution and just if they’re understanding,” how knowledgeable every- Spanish teacher Kirsten Cart- body was on where to go at er said. “I am much more the vaccination site, and how able to read that in-person helpful they were and how in class. It is also harder to smooth the whole operation tell their comfort level, and was functioning,” Miller said. to give them the reassurance With the first dose of the and develop that personal vaccine, many do not have connection and the trust.” side effects, and if they do Carter explained how have side effects, they are in October, scientists and very subtle. With the second medical experts were still dose, however, some have learning more about treat- reported side effects such as ments and were concerned swelling, mild fevers, fatigue, about the severity of it. Al- and aches. Many of these side though it still can be severe effects are symptoms of COV- for some people, it seems ID-19, meaning that your body like they are able to help would actually be having a more patients more often. better reaction to the vaccine. Now, the new COVID-19 Photo by Abby Thibodeau Miller talked about how variants create a new level he felt “a little bit more tired of concern in a different way. History teacher Ryan Miller displays his CDC issued card certifying that he has received for the first 24 hours.” He “I am very used to inter- the COVID-19 vaccination. Miller was able to receive the vaccine due to an initiative was still able to do all the acting with all of my kids, usual physical activities that every hour, and that was Mikai Tasch the country. Although the roll normal activities can resume, he does such as running. not the same, even in hy- out of the vaccine has been such as in-person learning. For many world language, brid this year. That is the “I have an additional line of slow to begin with around Junior Jana Myers ex- music, and art teachers, COV- one thing that weighs most defense against COVID, and early January, it is picking plained how she thinks every- ID-19 has brought a struggle heavily on me, that I am not also the thought of just doing up pace, which leads to the one should get vaccinated regarding how to teach a com- able to read their body lan- things that I have not done in, importance of schools reo- at one point so we can get pletely different language, guage.