Local educators excited as they get inoculated

Mar. 5—School staff in the north-central region have been getting vaccinated against COVID-19 this week after becoming eligible under new state guidelines, and many who attended a special clinic on Thursday set up specifically for them were thrilled to get the life-saving shot.

In Vernon, nearly 450 educators and other staff members — a number that Superintendent Joseph Macary estimated accounts for over 80% of that town's school employees — signed up to attend a clinic held Thursday at the local Senior Center on Bolton Road. He said every member of the school system who elected to be vaccinated was able to receive a vaccine at the clinic.

SCHOOL STAFF VACCINATED

WHERE: Special clinics set up by municipalities and school officials.

VACCINATORS: School nurses.

SECOND DOSE: To be administered at future clinics.

Vernon Town Administrator Michael Purcaro said the clinic was organized through a joint effort between the town, the local school system, and the North Central District Health Department. Vernon school nurses volunteered to administer the vaccines, Michelle Harlow, nursing supervisor for Vernon schools, said.

"I feel amazingly privileged and grateful to have this opportunity," she said. "I can breathe a sigh of relief," said Rockville High School Spanish teacher Amy Schlett shortly after getting the first of her two-dose shots. The second dose of the Moderna vaccine should be administered in the next few weeks to be effective.

But even after that, Schlett said she would still use caution, because she could be a carrier of the virus. Still, the vaccine will "open up my freedom to move about the classroom and interact with (students) more," she added

Eshrita Tirumala, a substitute teacher at Center Road School, shared similar sentiments with the Journal Inquirer.

"I don't know if the masks are going off or anything like that, but I'm happy that we are getting towards beating this virus," she said.

While Thursday was technically a school day, Harlow noted that only remote classes were held in Vernon so teachers could more easily coordinate their vaccination appointments, which requires a 15 minute period of observation for any potential reaction before they could leave and return to teaching remotely.

Harlow said the feedback from school staff was overwhelmingly positive.

"Everyone is so excited that they're finally able to get the vaccine," she said. "They've been coming in here very thankful, and we're also excited that we can get that for them. It feels like a weight has been lifted from a lot of them; now they'll feel safer at school."

Harlow added that masks and social distancing would still be required in school buildings.

The Vernon clinic also was opened to school staff in neighboring towns.

About 150 doses were pumped into the arms of Ellington school staff on Thursday, Purcaro said.

The town has been regularly hosting similar "mega clinics" for those who have been eligible under earlier phases of Gov. Ned Lamont's vaccine roll out, Purcaro said, adding that Vernon has "built a capacity and an expertise" that has allowed the town to create a model for vaccine distribution. He said officials from around the country, including Dallas, Texas and Suffolk, New York have contacted Vernon officials for advice on how to more efficiently vaccinate their populations.

"We keep telling them the same thing," he said. "It's about building partnerships, building capacity, utilizing the resources you have," and finding ways to recruit local volunteers.

Purcaro added that support from the governor's office and the state Department of Public Health has been "mission critical" for Vernon.

Other area towns also offered similar clinics.

On Wednesday, the Windsor school system coordinated with the Windsor Health Department to vaccinate 400 school staff, school officials from that town say.

"There were many helpful, friendly staff on hand to answer questions, keep the lines moving, and direct people to the post-vaccination waiting area," according to a statement from the school system. "At many times, there was no waiting line, which indicates that the process was well-planned and executed."

In Manchester, one clinic was held on Thursday and another was scheduled for today. The clinics were designated for staff at Bennet Academy, Illing Middle School, and Manchester Regional Academy, according to Superintendent Matthew Geary. Staff from Manchester High School and the town's elementary schools are next in line, he said in an online update, but he did not provide a specific date.

Additional clinics for school staff likely will be running on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, he said.

For updates and coverage of Vernon and Stafford, follow Anthony Branciforte on Twitter: @ABranciforte_JI, Facebook: Reporter Anthony Branciforte, and Instagram: @JI_Anthony1.