STARR County Vaccination Clinic
COVID-19 VACCINE APPROVED FOR CHILDREN 5 THOUGH 11 BY FDA AND CDC
The Tejeda family were among the first in the Starr County community to have their children receive the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while parents Jose and Janeillie received their booster shot Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, at the Starr County campus vaccination clinic. (L-R): Rose Benavidez, STC board of trustees' chair; Janellie Tejeda, mother; Jose Tejeda, father; Rene Fuentes, Starr County Sheriff; and Dr. Maria Rosas, STC COVID-19 prevention and response manager.
A family of four from Starr County was among the first to have their children vaccinated from the COVID-19 virus in an announcement made by the FDA and CDC that children ages 5 to 11 can now receive the vaccine.
This announcement carried into Thursday’s vaccination clinic held at the Starr County campus where families and the community were able to receive their vaccine doses and flu shot.
For parents Jose and Janellie Tejeda, express that it has been a priority of theirs to get the vaccine for themselves and their children.
“We were concerned about the virus, so our priority was to get the vaccine once it was approved,” said Jose. “And when we heard the vaccines were going to be administered here, we showed up.”
The authorization of approving the six-month booster shot which Jose and Janellie received and the approval for children to receive the first dose, came as a relief for the Tejeda’s.
“We’re glad that we are vaccinated as a family because I was concerned about my kids, but we feel safer,” shared Jose.
STC’s nursing and allied students helped administer the COVID-19 vaccines as well as the flu shot with local pharmacies.
“It’s important to get our community engaged in this because we’re all in this together facing the pandemic,” said STC LVN student, Valeria Varrientos.
STC board of trustees, Rose Benavidez who was also in attendance, adds onto the readiness the Starr County community repeatedly shows.
"One of the things that is striking is that when COVID started, the first drive-thru testing facility between Hidalgo and Starr County was done here at the Starr County campus,” shares Benavidez. “We’ve always been at the forefront of being of assistance to the community.”
Since becoming the first testing facility at the public level, STC’s COVID-19 response management team along with the county’s health department and campus administration is critical to making the vaccine available to all students.
“Knowing that we could have vaccines on campus was absolutely critical because many of our students care for children or work and are in school most of the time and need to be available for their children or appointments,” shares Benavidez.
STC’s COVID-19 prevention and response manager, Dr. Maria Rosas said that the booster shot is made available for those at higher risk such as immunocompromised individuals and essential workers.
“Vaccines help slow the spread of COVID including prevention measures recommended by the CDC,” said Rosas.
South Texas College will hold another COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Pecan Campus, Nov. 23 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The first, second and booster shots are free and available to all students, faculty, staff and the community with a valid school and/or government I.D.