KNOX COUNTY – Based on input from 900 school staff members who said they were interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, Knox Public Health plans to begin administering the injections to local school personnel this week.
“Each school district surveyed its staff to see who was interested in receiving the vaccine,” said Zach Green, KPH deputy health commissioner and coordinator of vaccine distribution to local schools. “The vaccine distribution for schools is geared to anyone who has routine, direct contact with students in kindergarten through 12th grade. That includes administrators and teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and other support staff.”
A team of public health nurses and clerical personnel will visit the different school districts to administer the vaccine. Emergency medical service workers in some communities are also helping with vaccine administration.
Participating school districts in Knox County include Danville Local, Centerburg Local, East Knox Local, Fredericktown Local, Knox County Career Center, Knox County Education Service Center, Seventh-Day Adventist Elementary, St. Vincent de Paul and Mount Vernon City schools. Some smaller school staffs will participate in clinics at the larger districts in the same community.
In addition to Knox County schools, KPH also was responsible for vaccination of more than 100 school personnel at the Clear Fork Valley Schools in Richland County because they are under the jurisdiction of the Knox County Education Service Center. KPH nurses administered those does on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
In addition to school personnel, this week KPH will also hold a first-dose clinic for approximately 250 people on Wednesday and a second-dose clinic for nearly 300 people on Friday at Mount Vernon Energy Fieldhouse. Curbside vaccination is always available for anyone who is not mobile. Signs are posted indicting the area for curbside vaccination.
For all local information related to COVID-19, including registering to receive the vaccine, call 740-399-8014.
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