DECATUR, Ala. — Banks-Caddell Elementary School is temporarily transitioning to virtual learning starting Friday, August 27, citing an increasing number of COVID cases.
The school says classes are optional on Thursday, August 26, in order to give parents and caregivers time to make plans. The school plans to reopen on September 7.
A district spokesperson said more information will be forthcoming.
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Ever since the COVID-19 vaccine made its way onto the scene, there has been talk of a booster shot.
Now that the FDA authorized this third booster dose, many people are left wondering who should take it.
"The third dose is actually intended for folks that are immunosuppressed, it's not actually intended for the general public," said ADPH Area Administrator Judy Smith.
Smith also says a booster dose should be available to the general public within the coming 6 weeks.
"It needs to be eight months since you had your previous dose, so if you got your doses in January, by the time that this is out, you probably, you know- you probably will be eligible for this vaccine," said Smith.
Alongside waiting 8 months after your previous dose, Smith also recommends sticking with the brand of vaccine you originally got.
"It is ideal if you had Moderna, to get Moderna. If you had Pfizer, to get the Pfizer vaccine," said Smith.
On August 23, the FDA fully approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, meaning it is no longer under emergency use authorization.
This could be a huge deal when it comes to combating vaccine hesitancy, but Smith says it doesn't change the information health professionals have been saying all along.
"Other authorizations are going to come along down the way but with or without that," said Smith. "Listen, if you look at the total doses of vaccine that have been given to the nation, total doses of vaccine that have been given in Alabama, although it's not enough- we've already approved this vaccine, we've already proven with the hospital data the safety of this vaccine, but if that was your reason... then I guess I'd say get over it and come on."
