WORCESTER, Mass. — With cold and flu season arriving, local schools are on the lookout for spreading illnesses and helping students stay protected.

At South High Community School in Worcester, nurses and community health partners held a vaccine clinic and a panel discussion with students about the School-Based Health Center Program.

The Health Center operates in partnership with the Family Health Center of Worcester, and offers a wide range of services for preventative and primary care.

Ann Marie Reynolds-Lynch, director of nursing for Worcester Public Schools, said when cold, flu, RSV and COVID-19 become more active this time of year, this resource makes a big difference.

“We achieved 98% immunization compliance for our student body last year, which was amazing,” she said. “And, you know, when I was reaching out to my colleagues in other districts, they were achieving 60% and they were looking at that as being a decent achievement for them.”

Angela Blazis, a family nurse practitioner who works at the Health Center, said it’s based on an understanding that families have obligations outside of school, which can sometimes lead to students going without the care they need to stay healthy and happy.

“Transportation is a big issue,” Blazis said. “When the students are already at school, they're able to get all of their care here and we make it like a one-stop shop. If they need labs, medications, vaccines, they're able to get it all done here.”

Several students spoke about how the Health Center has helped them during the roundtable discussion, including Ruby Perez, who plays sports at South High. She often finds herself visiting because of the occasional injuries that pop up during the season.

“Making an appointment at UMass is hard, because they’re always full or they don’t have space and can’t see you that day,” Perez said. “Here you can just go downstairs, make an appointment and in five minutes they’ll check you up. It’s really easy.”

Jeffery Antwi, a junior at South High, recently migrated to the U.S. last year. The school’s Health Center has also been an important resource for him.

“As someone who gets migraines, it's really been helpful because back in my country, it wasn't as good as here,” Antwi said. “It’s good to know that the nurses care more about not just your health, but also your personal issues.”

This year, Reynolds-Lynch anticipates an even higher vaccination rate than last year’s 98%.

All throughout flu season, the district also keeps parents updated on its website with information to keep their kids healthy and know when to stay home.