Teachers awaiting their turn for COVID-19 vaccinations
School districts in Greene County are working to vaccinate their teachers and other school staff, but it’s unclear when enough COVID-19 doses will be available.
COVID-19 vaccines are limited throughout the country, and there isn’t enough to go around right now.
“We’re really playing a waiting game at this point,” said Carmichaels School District Superintendent Fred Morecraft.
Currently, Pennsylvania is in phase 1A of vaccination; teachers are included in the 1B phase.
In Central Greene, Superintendent Kevin Monaghan said the district has been in contact with Cornerstone Care to potentially begin vaccinating staff.
“We’re waiting on information regarding when they’ll be available to our staff,” he said.
Monaghan said Cornerstone provided forms for interested staff to fill out before they receive a vaccine.
“We’re waiting to hear back on a date,” he said. “We’re trying to get this in right away.”
West Greene Superintendent Brian Jackson said that while the vaccines aren’t available yet, the district has been in communication with Centerville Clinics and are “exploring other options locally.”
Carmichaels’ Morecraft also mentioned Centerville Clinics or Cornerstone Care as potential vaccine suppliers once the vaccine becomes available to district staff.
He said Carmichaels has also surveyed its staff to see who wants the vaccine, but that there are no definite plans yet.
Washington Health System also will work with schools, day care centers and other groups to vaccinate once Phase 1B begins.
Eligible employees at Intermediate Unit 1, which provides educational support to students in school districts in Washington, Greene and Fayette counties, received the vaccine this week.
“I feel relieved,” said Karol Snead, an IU1 social worker. “I want to be with the kids. I think it’s important. But I also feel like there is an invisible threat we’re facing, and now I feel protected.”
Staff writer Katie Anderson contributed to this story.