FCS personnel get second vaccine doses; more cases revealed

Steve Keenan, The Fayette Tribune, Oak Hill, W.Va.
·2 min read

Feb. 14—On Friday, Feb. 5, over 200 Fayette County Schools personnel received their second dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine.

The workers received their first shots on Jan. 8.

According to Superintendent Gary Hough, approximately 220 individuals were administered their second shot on Feb. 5.

Also that day, another 35 employees received their initial dose. Those were individuals who hadn't been able to take their first shot originally due to quarantine protocols or not being available for another reason, said Hough.

Another round of second shots for more personnel will occur on Friday, Feb. 12. Hough said he expects about 250 doses to be administered that day.

Also, employees who have requested it will continue to receive their first shot — when vaccines are available — through the West Virginia Department of Education in a community health format, Hough said.

He estimated over 200 first shots would be necessary to accommodate county employees whose request to be vaccinated has yet to be fulfilled.

In a meeting in early January, the Fayette County Board of Education voted that county schools will remain in the blended learning model until both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been given to all system personnel who asked to be vaccinated.

----FCS announced seven more Covid-19 cases in the school system this week — four on Feb. 8, one on Feb. 9 and two on Feb. 10.

The Feb. 8 positive cases were single cases at Midland Trail High, Ansted Elementary, Oak Hill Middle and Oak Hill High.

The Feb. 9 case involved Oak Hill Middle and Bus #1526. Oak Hill high and middle students who ride that bus didn't attend school on Feb. 10 so the Fayette County Health Department could complete necessary contact tracing and investigations and determine if there was any community transmission.

The Feb. 10 cases involved students at Meadow Bridge Elementary and Midland Trail High.

Late last week, a case was announced at New River Primary on Feb. 5, and single cases were revealed at Midland Trail High and the board central office on Feb. 4.

Since school started back last fall, FCS has revealed 40 Covid-19 positive cases in schools or the central office. Hough said there have been scattered cases featuring transmission between employees, and there has been minimal in-school transmission involving students.

Email: skeenan@register-herald.com or follow on Twitter @gb_scribe