The majority of East students surveyed say they received the COVID-19 vaccine — but a significant number still have not. 

In a random survey of 100 students in Morton East High school students, 76  students reported to be vaccinated, while the rest of the 24 students are not.  

Vaccines help build immunity by making your body think you’re infected (when you really aren’t), and your body fights this fake infection by producing antibodies. That’s why the COVID-19 vaccination is an important tool to help stop the COVID-19 pandemic.  People are getting the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine to stay healthy. Also, the vaccination can mean the difference between life and death.   It’s true, you can still catch COVID-19 or the delta variant,  but if you get the vaccine, the chances are increased that you will not get very sick.  Yet, there are people who disagree and will not get the vaccine because for them Covid-19 isn’t seen as a threat.  Those people claim they are afraid of the side effects, rushed research and aproval and a variety of other conspiracy theories.  

 “I am fully vaccinated, and I feel perfectly fine with it. It is safe enough to trust the vaccine and it works particularly good as well,” Civics teacher Mr. Perry Doogan said.

Honestly, most staff members were just waiting to get the go-ahead from the State of Illinois, so they could get vaccinated.  

“At first, I wasn’t approved for this vaccine, but as soon as it was approved (for teachers), I was happy to get the vaccine —  especially knowing that I was covered for it and didn’t have to come work without it,” English Teacher Ms. LLoyd reported. 

Fortunatley, the Cook County Health Clinic at Morton East administered vaccines on site; teachers were invited to make appointments while they were at school.

“It was great; I got the Pfizer vaccine early.  It was offered to me one night at 5 pm while I was at night school because they had a couple extra doses that were going to go to waste.  The school was really good about prioritizing the older people first, then just going through the age ranks.  Even my student teacher got a vaccine here,”  journalism teacher Mr. Kent Frankfother said.

Of course, while many feel 100% safe, there are some people who are skeptical.

“I personally feel like the vaccine was rushed and people got it without doing any research. I felt forced to get the vaccine because of school, but to be honest I do not feel safe knowing some students are not vaccinated,” senior Manuel S. reported.  

All teachers at Morton East were required to submit proof of vaccination to the district office; those who were exempted from the vaccination because of religious or medical reasons must be tested regularly to see that they are not infected.