An elementary school teacher in Winter Haven, Florida, who was battling leukemia, died earlier this week after contracting COVID-19.
Her sister told the Tampa-based TV station WTVT that Kelly Peterson, a fifth-grade teacher at Ship Lake Elementary School in the Polk County Public Schools (PCPS) district, died of COVID-19 complications on Monday.
Her sister said that due to Peterson’s underlying health, she was discouraged from being vaccinated against the coronavirus.
“Because her leukemia is very serious, they are worried at this time that the vaccination may put too much pressure on her body,” her sister said. “She has expressed fear many times that if she does contract COVID, she is worried that she will be killed. Unfortunately, this is how it happened.”
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Lake Shipp Elementary School is one of more than 150 schools in the PCPS area. According to the region’s website, PCPS is the seventh largest region in Florida with more than 106,000 registered students.
Peterson’s sister told WTVT that after returning to the classroom for face-to-face teaching, Peterson wore a mask to protect herself from the virus. The PCPS has no rules for wearing masks, but the head of the school district said in a letter to the school district community earlier this month that school officials “strongly encourage” individuals to wear masks.
After receiving the news of Peterson’s death, the school paid tribute to “our dear Ship Lake family members” on social media. Facebook.
“She has affected the lives of hundreds of students and left a lasting impression on all of us,” the post said. “Her Ship Lake family will miss the infectious smile and laughter she has always had. Please keep her family, friends and our Ship Lake family in your thoughts and prayers.”
Cancer is listed in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) List of potential diseases, if people are infected with COVID-19, they may be at risk of “serious illness”.
The CDC says on its website: “Treatment for many types of cancer will weaken your body’s ability to fight disease.” “At this time, according to existing research, a history of cancer may increase your risk.”
Although the CDC stated that “most people” have underlying health conditions that can be protected from COVID-19 by vaccination, the agency pointed out that the data collected so far on the impact of vaccines on people with compromised immune systems is limited .
Federal health officials encourage individuals with impaired immune systems who have been approved to get the virus vaccine to get an extra dose Pfizer Or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Weekly newspaper Contacted PCPS for comments, but received no response before publication.
