Home Local News Teachers can get COVID vaccine starting Feb. 24

Teachers can get COVID vaccine starting Feb. 24

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ROCKINGHAM — Teachers in Richmond County and across the state will soon be able to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Gov. Roy Cooper and Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen announced Wednesday that K-12 teachers, other school staff members and child care workers can receive the vaccine starting Feb. 24.

There has been growing concern about when teachers could get the vaccine, especially in Richmond County since schools started back last week. School Board member Ronald Tillman opposed the 5-2 measure, partly because he wanted to wait until teachers could get vaccinated.

Other frontline workers in Group 3 will be eligible on March 10.

“I am grateful to all of our educators and school personnel for going above and beyond in this pandemic to care for children and help them continue to learn,” Cooper said in a statement. “Starting with a smaller number of Group 3 frontline essential workers helps providers streamline vaccine distribution effectively and efficiently.”

According to the governor’s office, the state is phasing in vaccinations in groups due to limited supplies. Currently, the only people eligible for the vaccine are health care and long-term care workers and residents aged at least 65.

NCDHHS

County Health Director Dr. Tommy Jarrell said the Health Department is currently assessing how many teachers and child care workers want the vaccine.

This week, Jarrell said there were 1,100 doses allocated to Richmond County: 500 to the Health Department; 400 to FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital-Richmond; and 100 each to the Goshen Medical Center clinics in Rockingham and Hamlet.

Jarrell said the county is guaranteed at least 400 doses for next week — and may be allotted more — but health officials won’t know the total until late Thursday night, early Friday morning. He added that appointments for this week are already booked.

Jarrell is also unsure of how many doses the county will receive by the time teachers are eligible.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reports that 5,171 people in Richmond County have received the first of the two-dose vaccine, and 882 have been administered both.

To sign up for the vaccine, call 910-417-3030 and leave your name, date of birth and phone number. Local health officials ask that callers not leave multiple messages.

Vaccinations aren’t restricted by residency, Jarrell said, adding that some South Carolina residents have come to Richmond County for a shot.

A spokesman for Scotland Health Care System said there was still availability for Thursday and Friday. To schedule an appointment in Scotland County, call 910-291-7654 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

McLeod Health Cheraw will also be holding a walk-in vaccination clinic from 1 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 at Pine Grove Baptist Church, 293 Zoar Road, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

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Supplies are on a first come, first serve basis while limited supplies last for the first dose only.

The clinic is for those in the health field or 65 and older. Those who wish to be vaccinated should bring a photo ID, to verify age, or work badge.

NEW CASES CONTINUE DOWNWARD TREND

The Health Department on Wednesday reported 16 new cases — the fewest since only six were reported on Dec. 28.

The number of active cases dropped to 237, down from a record high of 504 last month.

The Richmond County Schools’ COVID case tracker shows that four virtual students — two at East Rockingham Elementary and one each at the Ninth Grade Academy and Richmond Senior — as well as a staff member at the NGA have tested positive.

DHHS reported 2,833 new daily cases statewide. While it’s a slight rise from the previous day, it’s still fewer than all but three days in the past month.

COVID-related hospitalizations also continue to decrease, with 2,291 patients being treated for the coronavirus on Tuesday. The county’s hospitalizations remain at 16.

FirstHealth reports that 53 of its 368 patients (14.4%) are COVID-positive and Scotland Memorial Hospital had 18 isolated patients.

The new hours for the free drive-thru testing clinic behind the Health Department are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays.

Of all the tests performed in Richmond County, 29,300 have been negative and 3,938 have been positive.

 



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Managing Editor William R. Toler is an award-winning writer and photographer with experience in print, television and online media.