By Beacon Staff
Burlington students received their class instruction online today due to COVID-19 vaccine side-effects experienced by roughly 60 of the school district’s 260 person staff, and students in Danville may have to do the same later this week.
A statement posted by the Danville Community School District on Monday (March 1) is warning parents and guardians that side effects from the second round of vaccine could temporarily impact staff attendance at the end of this week.
Danville school officials said 74 of the district’s staff will receive the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday (March 3).
Another 140 of the Burlington School District staff will also receive their second dose of the vaccine Wednesday, which could result in more virtual classes Thursday and Friday.
Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, fatigue, and headache are more common after the second dose of the vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency said symptoms after either the first or second dose are no cause for alarm, and instead indicates the body is building immunity to the virus.
The statement by the Danville School District, which can be seen on the district's Facebook page, reads:
"With 74 staff receiving the second dose it is possible the District could encounter a high rate of absenteeism due to the second round side effects.
We are asking for all parents and guardians to be prepared for either on-line instruction for grades 6-12 or paper packets for K-5 for either Thursday, March 4th and/or Friday, March 5th. No matter what happens, paper packets will accompany the student’s home on Wednesday. The call to virtual/packet work will be made as soon as possible.
We apologize for any inconvenience this might bring to families but this is just another mitigation to get all of us through these trying times.”