The side effects from COVID-19 vaccines are having an effect on in-person learning in some Kalamazoo County classrooms.
St. Augustine Cathedral School in Kalamazoo closed Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, because multiple teachers called out sick due to side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine they received the day before.
St. Augustine Principal Andra Zommers said she tried to prepare by having five substitute teachers lined up, but six teachers called out sick with headaches and chills.
Dr. Aaron Lane-Davies, chief of quality for Bronson Medical Group, said vaccines often come with short-term, minor side effects, but the protection from COVID-19 was well worth the temporary discomfort.
“These effects, the normal effects of your body reacting to a vaccine are really a good demonstration that your body is gearing to fight an infection and that it’s gearing up to fight that infection in the future,” Lane-Davies said.
Other schools are seeing similar effects.