News for North Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Dallas ISD Is Busing Students To Get COVID-19 Shots

A masked nurse standing by a school bus door administers an injection into the right arm of a masked young woman to the left of the nurse.
Bill Zeeble
/
KERA News
Nurse Ciara Crawford gives a COVID-19 vaccine to Dallas high school student Selena Nunez, in Fair Park. 21 other Dallas students were also on the bus.

The Dallas school district began busing willing teens to get COVID-19 shots this week after officials approved the Pfizer vaccine for those 12 and older. Previously, vaccines were only available to those at least 16.

The Dallas school district began busing willing students 16 and up to get their COVID shots this week.

Standing in front of Samuell High School, 18 year-old Roberto Barrera says getting the shot’s a no-brainer. His parents already got theirs, and a beloved neighbor urged it.

"She’s an elderly woman,” Roberto said. “She told me to go get it. She’s like a close family member ... might as well get it. It’s not something to be scared about, you know? Be safe and we don’t have to wear masks, because now you can go without a mask if you’re vaccinated, right?"

The reason was personal in a different way for 17 year-old Selena Nunez.

"I was like I’m going to get it because I wanted my brothers to be safe because they’re still little," Selena said.

After a short bus ride to Fair Park, these two and 20 other students hopped off and got their shots.

“I didn’t feel it,” Selena said, surprised. ”I thought I would feel a poke or something but I didn’t feel anything.”

School nurse Barbara Chavez said this is a big deal.

“We want to make sure our children are safe and we also want to involve our community,” Chavez said. “We just want to come back to school and have a normal year."

Chavez says that possibility now feels one step closer.

Got a tip? Email Reporter Bill Zeeble at bzeeble@kera.org. You can follow him on Twitter @bzeeble.

KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider making a tax-deductible gifttoday. Thank you.

Bill Zeeble has been a full-time reporter at KERA since 1992, covering everything from medicine to the Mavericks and education to environmental issues.