RIDGEFIELD — Student-body president Shelby Fisher is no stranger to helping plan memorable events at Ridgefield High School.
But a student-led vaccination clinic to benefit fellow classmates, students in surrounding communities and the general public ranks near the top of the senior’s list.
“I’m so proud we got everybody here and pulled this off in two weeks,” Fisher said. “I’m excited that this is working out.”
Wednesday, Ridgefield High School’s Associated Student Body class hosted a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic that drew around 300 who pre-registered to receive either the Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
The event also was met with anti-vaccination protesters, and later, counterprotesters outside the school. School and district officials were aware of protesters arriving ahead of Wednesday’s event, Principal Christen Palmer said, and in anticipation, had extra district security staff on hand.
Vaccination clinics in schools, in partnership with Clark County Public Health, have been going since March 13. Besides Ridgefield, other school locations have been at Woodland High School, Hathaway Elementary in Washougal and the Fruit Valley Community Learning Center. Before Wednesday, Public Health spokeswoman Marissa Armstrong said, 2,791 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered. The event returns to Ridgefield on June 16.
Armstrong added Ridgefield is the only school to have students advocating for a vaccine clinic on-location.
The goal at Ridgefield, Fisher said: to make it as convenient as possible for anyone ages 12 and older choosing to get vaccinated.
“We wanted to make sure it was available to anybody,” Fisher said. “A lot of people are excited we’re doing something and being able to make a difference in the Ridgefield community.”
Fisher said she’s fully vaccinated, but knows for some who choose to be vaccinated, convenience or accessibility might be an issue. That’s why holding Ridgefield’s event during school hours felt like an ideal fit, she said. The district also expanded the event to students at schools in the Battle Ground and Vancouver school districts, and its nearby middle school, View Ridge, in addition to community members and the general public.
One Ridgefield family elected to make their vaccinations a family outing. Daryl Rodriguez, who works for the school district in transportation services, already got his COVID-19 before Wednesday, but his wife, Denise, and their children Nicole, 20, and Aaron, 18, got their one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot together.
Denise Rodriguez said one of the reasons the family chose this event is because of its no-line, quick in-and-out process.
“To have to go stand in line for a vaccine isn’t always possible for everybody in the community,” she said.
Outside, several dozen demonstrators gathered throughout the school day in front of the high school along South Hillhurst Road to protest against COVID-19 vaccination of students, and vaccination clinics held in schools. The group later was met with counterprotesters dressed in medical scrubs standing in support of vaccinations and Ridgefield’s efforts to host a vaccination clinic.
Parent Lindsey Nichols said Wednesday she’s pro-choice on vaccines and supports people’s right to do what’s in their best interest and own research, but said schools should not be a vaccination site.
“Schools, hands down, absolutely should not be part of it,” said Nichols, a parent of four kids who attend Ridgefield schools. “They should be in their safe zone. This should be where kids can come and be kids.”
