Raleigh, N.C. — Starting Feb. 24, teachers, school staff and childcare providers can start getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
"We are really excited," said teacher Mike Smith. "We have been stressed out about going back to school without it."
But, there are some major obstacles that could keep that from happening including after signing up for the vaccine, people will still have to wait for a shot to be available and winter weather delay vaccine shipments.
"I'm pretty anxious," said Rachel Taulbee Franklin, a Franklin County teacher. "We have been back to in-person instruction under Plan B since last fall."
"The delays have impacted us a lot. We had to cancel 400 appointments this week because our shipment is still waiting somewhere right now. That put a hold on everything we've got going on," said John Gillie, Wayne County public information officer.
Gillie said backlogs are becoming a much bigger problem and that Wayne County has 7,000 people from Groups 1 and 2 still waiting for a shot.
Orange County has more than 20,000 on the same waiting list with the same issue: not enough supply, but lots of demand.
"We can't move to Group 3 until we finish Groups 1 and 2, unless the state provides us with vaccine that is earmarked for teachers. So far, they have not done that. School personnel will be at the front of the line when we get ready to move to Group 3 but until that vaccine supply increases, that may be a while," said Orange County community relations director Todd McGee in a statement.
"When those doses don't come in, it puts the brakes on everything," said Gillie.
Some teachers said they understand there are others ahead of them on the priority list and they are willing to wait it out.
“I certainly don’t want to take a shot, or get in line in front of someone else that needs it more than I, that’s the way I’m natured; that is how I feel," said Tonya Smith.
Once there are enough doses, Wayne County officials said they are working on a plan to speed up the process, which would include having school nurses administer shots at schools for teachers and staff members.
"wait" - Google News
February 19, 2021 at 11:36AM
https://ift.tt/37secvm
Teachers brace to wait for COVID-19 vaccine - WRAL.com
"wait" - Google News
https://ift.tt/35qAU4J
https://ift.tt/2Ssyayj
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Teachers brace to wait for COVID-19 vaccine - WRAL.com"
Post a Comment