Seacoast Kids Roll Up Their Sleeves for COVID-19 Shots

The push is on in Dover and Rochester to get kids vaccinated against COVID-19 as the number of positive COVID-19 continues to rise.

State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said on Tuesday during Gov. Chris Sununu's coronavirus briefing that there are an average of 1,000 new infections daily and joined the governor in urging everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated.

As of Tuesday there are 678 active COVID-19 cases in Strafford County and 615 in Rockingham County, according to the state COVID-19 dashboard. Rochester has 187 cases and Dover 166, also among the highest positive cases.

“We are currently seeing the highest level of COVID-19 in our communities that we’ve experienced at any point during this pandemic," Chan said.

Taking The Jab in Rochester

409 students in all eight Rochester elementary schools and Rochester Middle School received the shot on Monday in clinics organized by the Rochester Fire Department, according to Superintendent Kyle Repucci. Nursing students from UNH administered the first Pfizer shots to students who got lollipops and stickers from firefighters at the end.

"I’m so very pleased by the great teamwork displayed by school staff, firefighters, nursing students and the Stafford County Public Health Network that enabled Rochester Public Schools to offer this important resource to our school community,” Repucci said.

125 children who were pre-registered for the shot were no-shows.

The district will administer the second dose at schools on Dec. 13.

Booster shots for Rochester Public Schools staff members will be offered on Dec. 3 and Dec. 10.

Shot In Dover Public Schools

Nearly 500 kids age 5-11 in the Dover Public Schools middle and elementary schools were given the shot, according to Dover Fire Chief Paul Haas.

“The widespread participation by parents and kids who chose to take advantage of the
opportunity to get vaccinated clearly shows the eagerness people have to protect
themselves and their families from Covid-19 and to return our community to a greater
sense of normalcy,” Haas said in as statement. “The only way we will get there is through vaccinating against this virus.

The chief said there were kids who were eager to take the jab, some nervous and some indifferent but 95% of them were in school the next day

"Some chose to stay home in case they didn’t feel well, but we are not aware of anyone who had any significant symptoms related to the vaccine," Haas said.

The second dose of the vaccine will be administered in schools in December.

55% of eligible New Hampshire residents have been vaccinated, according to the state dashboard, which does not yet show metrics for age 5-11.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH