Disparities in Implementing COVID-19 Prevention Strategies in Public Schools, United States, 2021–22 School Year
Sanjana Pampati, Catherine N. Rasberry, Zach Timpe, Luke McConnell, Shamia Moore, Patricia Spencer, Sarah Lee, Colleen Crittenden Murray, Susan Hocevar Adkins, Sarah Conklin, Xiaoyi Deng, Ronaldo Iachan, Tasneem Tripathi, Lisa C. Barrios
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, US schools have been encouraged to take a layered approach to prevention, incorporating multiple strategies to curb transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Using survey data representative of US public K-12 schools (N = 437), we determined prevalence estimates of COVID-19 prevention strategies early in the 2021-22 school year and describe disparities in implementing strategies by school characteristics. Prevalence of prevention strategies ranged from 9.3% (offered COVID-19 screening testing to students and staff) to 95.1% (had a school-based system to report COVID-19 outcomes). Schools with a full-time school nurse or school-based health center had significantly higher odds of implementing several strategies, including those related to COVID-19 vaccination. We identified additional disparities in prevalence of strategies by locale, school level, and poverty. Advancing school health workforce and infrastructure, ensuring schools use available COVID-19 funding effectively, and promoting efforts in schools with the lowest prevalence of infection prevention strategies are needed for pandemic preparedness.