Student COVID-19 Immunizations Not Required for 2022-2023 School Year

Dear Families and Community,

On April 13, our school district learned that the COVID-19 vaccine will not be a required vaccine for Washington State public school students this fall. Immunization requirements for students in the 2022-2023 school year will remain the same as past school years.

The Decision-Making Process

The Washington State Board of Health, which determines immunization requirements for students in K–12 public schools, organized a Technical Advisory Group to consider the issue. The group was made up of doctors, public health officials, school partners, and other community members. In late February, the group concluded their work and recommended to the State Board of Health that the vaccine not be required. In today’s State Board of Health meeting, the group’s recommendation was reviewed and the board agreed with the recommendation.

At this time, there are no changes to the governor proclamation requiring school employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

We will continue to share information about state and local pandemic requirements. We appreciate your partnership and support of our public schools.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ann Varkados

How Do I Get Tested for COVID 19?

Testing is an important part of our strategy for keeping school open during this time.

We all know how challenging life has been during the pandemic and the stress it has caused on families -- especially when it comes to having to quarantine for symptoms. Long quarantines are not ideal for learning, but they may be necessary to ensure the health and safety of our entire student body and staff.

COVID testing can get your child back in school earlier in certain situations.

We provide testing for students and staff here at Lyle School.

This will eliminate the hassle of getting your kids to a testing location, reduce the amount of time families have to wait for COVID test results, and also help reduce the strain on local medical offices.

There are a few things we would like you to know:

We will never test a student without a the parent or custodian's permission and preferably, we like to have the parent present. The parent/student will be the one to administer the shallow nasal swab. This swab only needs to be inserted ¼ to ½ inch into the nose.

There are two tests that we provide.

Rapid antigen tests. This test is used to quickly screen for a positive result, meaning the person has COVID. If a rapid test comes back negative, it must be followed by a PCR for an added level of surety.
PCR testing. This test will be given with parental consent when a student has exhibited symptoms but the rapid test showed negative. Parents will not be charged for this test, but if you have insurance, your insurance will be billed. You will be sent a link after giving consent for the test, and you will enter your insurance information there. Your student’s results will also be available to you within the 48-72 hours.

Keep in mind, we are not a public testing site. We cannot offer testing for anyone other than our students and staff as it is needed.

Where can family members get tested?

If any members of your family who are not Lyle students develops symptoms, it’s important they get tested, too.

Order free home COVID-19 tests

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. Order your tests now so you have them when you need them.

You can also purchase at-home tests at local pharmacies, depending on supply. If you have medical insurance, it will cover the costs of the kits. Keep your receipts to submit for reimbursement.

If you need a COVID-19 test now, here are some options:

The first step is to call your medical provider or the Klickitat County Public Health Department at 509-773-4565. The health department's hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
North Shore Medical Group in Bingen, MCMC in The Dalles and Klickitat Valley Health in Goldendale all offer PCR testing for non-patients by appointment, too.
For contact information and more testing site options, go to https://www.gorgeimpact.com/testing

Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure:

Fever of 100.4 degrees or higher
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Chills
Fatigue
Muscle pain or body aches
Headache
Loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Other signs of new illness

How can I help prevent its spread?

How COVID-19 Spreads

The best way to protect yourself and those around you is to immunize if you qualify for the vaccine. Here's a list of ways to get immunized.

Vaccinated or not, if you have symptoms, stay home! Testing is an important part of determining when a student can return to school. See the Symptom Flow Chart to see what to do if you are symptomatic.

In general, practice proven techniques to limit the spread of respiratory illness. Stay home at the first sign of illness. Avoid large gatherings and wear a mask in public areas. Cover your coughs. Wash your hands and clean high-touch surfaces frequently.

If you would not otherwise seek medical care, this is not a reason to do so now. Take care of mild symptoms at home as you would otherwise do, and don't expose others unnecessarily.

If you have more severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or becoming dehydrated, call your medical provider to discuss your symptoms. He or she may direct you to go to a hospital for further evaluation, and will help you plan to do so in a way that will not expose others. Your medical provider can communicate with the public health department around testing needs.

How contagious is COVID-19?

Health officials say the Delta variant of COVID-19 is very contagious. It has an r0 value of around 7, which means that, on average, every person who contracts this variant will spread it to 7 other people. Chickenpox is has an r0 of 10. Source: NPR, August 11, 2021

Who is most at risk from catching this virus?

Persons who are older or who have underlying health conditions are at higher risk to develop complications from this virus. However, unlike the first generation of COVID-19 to cause the pandemic, many children are catching the Delta variant and some are becoming quite ill from it. Many people also have long-term debilitating symptoms long after having recovered from the acute stage of the disease.

Where can I find more information?

The Centers for Disease Control and The Washington State Department of Health

What's the school's role in preventing the spread of COVID-19?

Like any place where people gather, we have a responsibility to do our best to protect them from transmittable diseases, and we are taking measures recommended by the department of health and CDC. In addition, we have a unique role in which we can educate both our students and their families, and the community in general. This webpage is part of our efforts.

COVID-19 Klickitat County Update, p2