COVID-19 Vaccine: Clay County begins vaccinating school staff 50 and up

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — Hundreds of COVID-19 vaccine appointments were booked up in Clay County by school staff ages 50 and up.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed the executive order Monday allowing school personnel and law enforcement officers 50 and up to get the vaccine.

Clay County Schools was quick to jump in.

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Superintendent David Broskie told Action News Jax they had 450 appointments available at the Clay County Fairgrounds each day, with several spots left through the rest of the week.

“Supporting teachers,” he said.

“Teachers are on the ground floor with students educating our youth.”

He said about 1,900 staff fit the 50 and up age range, which is about half of the district’s staff.

Clay County Education Association president Victoria Kidwell said she’s grateful the district was quick to work with the Department of Health and Emergency Management.

She said it’s a relief to staff concerned about COVID-19 in the classroom.

“That just kind of hanging over you is such a weight. Just one more stressor that our teachers are under. To be able to relieve that stress is huge,” she said.

Clay County is one of the first in northeast Florida to secure vaccines for teachers with appointments immediately available.

Superintendent Broskie said appointments are during the work day, so they’re working with staff to provide coverage so that they can make their appointment.

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He added that the district has used a three-tiered approach to slowing the spread of the virus in school including masks, social distancing and extra cleaning.

“Now the vaccines are one more tool in our tool belt to help us mitigate the virus,” he told Action News Jax’s Robert Grant.

Staff can book appointments for the vaccine at Emergency Management | Clay County, FL.

Cox Media Group