State-run testing sites will be ending by June 25th. Please encourage families to make an appointment to pick up free tests at state sites before June 25th. They can get up to four antigen test kits and one LAMP test kit (similar to PCR) per appointment.
Appointments can be made for each family member. Families may also access tests from the Federal Free At-Home COVID Test Program. In the future, access to testing will be through pharmacies or primary medical providers.
In the upcoming weeks, the Vermont Department of Health’s test kit distribution to child care programs will also end (click here to order your kits).
The pediatric vaccine rollout for children ages 6 months to 4 years old is expected to start at the end of June, giving children the opportunity to be optimally protected. With the protection of vaccination made available, the reliance on testing will greatly decrease. Reach out to families to discuss the benefits of vaccination and encourage your families and staff to get vaccinated and/or boosted. For help with promoting the vaccine, there is also a social media toolkit for your use.
As we continue to recover, now is a great time to think about your sickness policy and to bring it into alignment with the Vermont Department of Health’s recommendations regarding Covid and possible Covid exposures. Having a policy that protects children based on the most current information allows families to continue to meet the demands of their employers as well as allowing you to have a more predictable schedule.
Thank you for caring for and educating Vermont’s youngest citizens.
Questions
If you have a health or vaccine related question, please contact 802-863-7240 (toll-free 833-722-0860) or AHS.VDHPublicCommunictaions@vermont.gov.
If you have questions about child care licensing, please contact the Licensor on Duty at 802-241-0837 (toll-free 800-649-2642, option 3) or AHS.DCFCDDchildcarelicensing@vermont.gov