The South Washington County Schools Community Education Skoolie is a decorated school bus. It delivers food and Community Ed programming to families of all transportation and financial circumstances in District 833. The “affordable” Skoolie events that Community Ed facilitates take place during breaks from school, weekends and summers. For instance, Family Fun Nights reoccur on weeknights throughout the summer. Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evening, Skoolie rolls up to a different section of South Washington County. Then, bundles of fruits and vegetables, enrichments, information about local resources and events, and dinner are offered to guests for zero charge. But since June 30, Skoolie has not been the only vehicle arriving at select Family Fun Nights.

The Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment owns a mobile vaccine clinic. On board of the Community Health Trailer are the Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna vaccines. The vehicle allows the department to meet unvaccinated locals where they are. Jill Timm is Senior Program Manager of Washington County’s Department of Public Health and Environment. She wrote to the Journal: “We are grateful for opportunities to work in the community and bring vaccine to people rather than have people come to us.”

When SWCS Community Ed invited Washington County to operate its Community Health Trailer at Skoolie events this summer, the department accepted. Timm justified, “Working with partners in the community and schools helps public health reach individuals and families at places they normally gather. We are available to provide resources and answers to questions, as well as provide vaccine for those who are seeking it.”

According to COVID-19 vaccine data collected by the Minnesota Department of Health, 65% of people aged 12 and above have secured at least one dose in Washington County. The Community Engagement Coordinator of SWCS concluded that this vaccination rate is “high.” Even so, Cheryl Jogger claimed that “there are pockets of the population who may experience barriers in getting vaccinated.”

Vaccine Events at Skoolie Family Fun Nights are intended to tear down those barriers. Washington County Public Health and SWCS Community Ed wish to tend to the 35% of Washington County’s population that is unvaccinated. Additionally, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has been approved for authorization in children aged 12+. Both organizations desire to immunize students. “Ideally, we will reach more adolescents with [a] COVID-19 vaccine prior to the start of the school year,” Timm told The Journal.

There are more Vaccine Events at Skoolie Family Fun Nights that one can mark on their calendars. Each one will begin at 5pm and finish at 6:30pm. During that time frame, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines will be offered to anyone aged 12 years and older. Appointments, insurance and identification are not necessary in order to secure a shot. The dates and settings of approaching Vaccine Events at Skoolie Family Fun Nights are listed below:

• July 19 (first dose clinic at Royal Oaks)

• July 20 (first dose clinics Newport)

• July 21 (first & second dose clinic at Pullman)

• July 22 (first & second dose clinic at Armstrong)

• August 9 (first & second dose clinic at Royal Oaks)

• August 10 (first & second dose clinic at Newport) The Journal questioned Jogger on why one should appear at one of these occurrences. She exclaimed, “Our Summer Skoolie Family Fun Nights have always ultimately been about bringing resources to the community… food, activities, information, and now even vaccines! Come for the fun and go home with what you need!”