New Hampshire schools hold vaccination clinics as COVID-19 surge continues

MANCHESTER, N.H. —

Some New Hampshire school districts are still struggling to keep students in class, but officials are hopeful that the COVID-19 winter surge is nearing an end.

The Department of Health and Human Services dashboard currently lists more than 1,000 active COVID-19 cases in New Hampshire schools, with 299 clusters, although the dashboard is not always up to date.

School officials said they're not only trying to control the spread of COVID-19, but also trying to keep children in school in the future. Woodsville Elementary School is closed through Wednesday because of 30 active cases, making up more than 10% of the students in the school.

"I am hopeful that the three days of school closure will provide time for some of our positive cases to clear and allow for deep cleaning," Superintendent Laurie Melanson said. "We are providing student meals during these three days for pick up at the school."

Some districts are working through the new isolation and quarantine guidelines and trying to help children by getting them up to date on vaccinations. Bedford is partnering with Rite Aid to host a vaccination clinic at the high school on Feb. 2. It's intended for 12- to 15-year-olds who are eligible for the Pfizer booster.   ...