HARLINGEN — The state’s COVID-19 vaccination program is shifting toward teachers as the Harlingen school district plans to open its first vaccination clinics on Wednesday.
In San Benito, School Board President Orlando Lopez said officials are planning to vaccinate more teachers.
Meanwhile, the Raymondville school district, which has vaccinated nearly all its teachers, is planning to hold a clinic on Friday aimed at vaccinating Lyford, San Perlita and Lasara teachers, Deputy Superintendent Ben Clinton said Monday.
Across the country, teachers have expressed concern about returning to classrooms of students amid the threat of the coronavirus.
“It’s created a lot of strain on our staff,” Lopez said. “They don’t want to get sick. There’s a lot of stress, a lot of uncertainty. It’s been tough for everybody.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recognized teachers as “essential workers” critical to helping keep schools open, leading President Joe Biden’s administration to push for their vaccinations by the end of the month.
“We need to protect teachers,” Josh Ramirez, Harlingen’s public health director, said. “They’re in contact with students.”
Harlingen plans two high school clinics
On Wednesday, the Harlingen school district is planning to vaccinate 600 teachers at clinics set for Harlingen High School and Harlingen High School South, officials said.
“We’re extremely thankful the county and city are making this a possibility,” district spokesman Shane Strubhart said, adding the district employs about 1,200 teachers. “Nearly all of us are concerned in our community about the virus.”
Officials plan to open the program targeting teachers 65 and older and those suffering underlying medical conditions, Ramirez said, adding the city will give the vaccinations because it’s an approved COVID-19 vaccine administrator.
“They will select the qualifying teachers for the vaccine,” he said, referring to district officials. “They want to start with those most vulnerable. As the vaccine becomes more available, we’ll administer to the rest of the teachers.”
On Sunday, district officials worked with Care Rx pharmacy to administer 200 doses to teachers, Strubhart said.
Since the pandemic’s March outbreak, the district’s adherence to federal safety guidelines has led to few COVID-19 cases, he said.
“Because of our safety protocols, we have rarely seen transmission of the virus at the district,” he said.
San Benito planning to vaccinate more teachers
In San Benito, officials are planning to vaccinate more teachers after working with county leaders and the Texas Division of Emergency Management to vaccinate 400 teachers on Friday.
“They’re going to take care of our teachers. That’s a blessing,” Lopez said. “I’m glad the teachers are getting the safety net.”
Raymondville to vaccinate Willacy school districts
Meanwhile, Raymondville school district officials are planning to hold a clinic on Friday, aiming to administer 2,340 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to teachers in the Lyford, San Perlita and Lasara school districts, along with day care employees and Head Start workers, Clinton said.
Last Friday, officials vaccinated about 100 Raymondville teachers and employees, he said, adding the district employs about 200 teachers.
Since the vaccine’s roll out in mid December, district officials have been vaccinating teachers, he said.
“Since the vaccine became available, we’ve been working hard to make sure every school employee is vaccinated,” Clinton said. “Every teacher who wanted the vaccine got it.”
Background
As part the state’s distribution program, health officials began vaccinating first responders such as health care workers, police officers and firefighters after launching the vaccine’s roll out.
In January, health officials began targeting people 65 and older, including nursing home residents and those suffering underlying medical conditions.
State health officials plan to begin vaccinating the general public around April or May.
