Kid-size doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine appear safe and nearly 91% effective at preventing symptomatic infections in 5- to 11-year-olds, according to study details released Friday as the U.S. considers opening vaccinations to that age group. The shots could begin in early November, ...
WASHINGTON — Children ages 5 to 11 will soon be able to get a COVID-19 shot at their pediatrician’s office, local pharmacy and potentially even their school, the White House said Wednesday as it detailed plans for the expected authorization of the Pfizer shot for elementary school ...
A Pennsylvania appeals court heard arguments Wednesday on whether the Wolf administration had the legal right to impose a mask mandate on K-12 schools and child care facilities to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The state’s acting health secretary ordered students, teachers and staff to wear face coverings when inside, reversing course after Gov. Tom Wolf had earlier pledged that masking in schools would remain a local decision. The Aug. 31 order, issued as the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus was driving a statewide surge in cases and hospitalizations, has ...
The Tyrone Area School Board solicitor was accused of scaring the board into abiding by the Wolf administration’s mask mandate during the public input portion of the board’s Tuesday work session. “I don’t know how you would possibly advise them that they could be liable for willful misconduct when they have sovereign immunity as a school district and there has never been a liable case ever that has come against the school,” said district parent Tracey Stroup. Stroup accused the solicitor of terrorizing and scaring the board by telling them that they would be personally liable ...
BELLWOOD — Bellwood-Antis School District Superintendent Thomas McInroy — on behalf of the school district — this week sent a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf and Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam — upset with the masking mandate sent out to schools on Aug. 31. The school board has held several meetings attended by crowds in excess of 50 parents complaining about the requirement for students to wear masks. “We sent the letters so they knew the ramifications of their decision. We began the school year with a choice concerning mask wearing. We worked during the summer to develop a ...
HARRISBURG — The number of vaccinated state prison system employees has nearly doubled in the two months since Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf mandated vaccines or weekly testing to help contain the coronavirus, a policy prison guards unsuccessfully challenged in court. The Corrections Department said Friday more than 6,700 workers have now been vaccinated, nearly 43% of the total and an increase from about 3,600 in early August. The number not vaccinated has fallen from about 12,300 to 9,100. Last week, a Commonwealth Court judge threw out a lawsuit by the prison guards’ union that ...
