ERIE COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVB) — Williamsville, Amherst, Clarence, and Sweet Home Central School Districts are partnering with Daemen College and the Erie County Department of Health to hold a Pfizer vaccine clinic in mid-May and early June for students in their districts who are 12 and older.

“It’s exciting. It’s definitely been a long year plus and like I said the most important place for kids to be is in school, Amherst Central School District Superintendent Anthony Panella said.

In a release, school officials say Daemen College and the ECDOH approached the districts about hosting a vaccine clinic for students last week. Officials with Daemen College say since they’ve spent time vaccinating their own students, this was the next step.

“Now that we’ve reached a critical level for our campus community it only made sense that we would help the high schools get their students vaccinated as well,” said Greg Nayor who’s the VP for strategic initiatives at Daemen College.

The clinics follow the emergency authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which expanded eligibility for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children 12-15 years old.

“We view this Pfizer vaccine age eligibility expansion as an invaluable opportunity to extend protection against COVID-19 in our community, and reduce the risks of COVID-19 transmission in the most important activities for children – school, sports, and social gatherings with peers,” Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein said.

“The combined efforts to make this vaccination clinic available to the families in each of our districts reflects the collegial working relationship we have with Daemen College, our neighboring school districts, and the Erie County Department of Health,” Amherst Central School District Superintendent Anthony Panella added.