Polk Takes 1st Step Securing COVID-19 Vaccine For School Workers

POLK COUNTY, FL — The Polk County Public School District wants to secure COVID-19 vaccines for its employees.

The first step, the district said, is for staff members interested in getting the vaccines to fill out online surveys. The survey went live Thurs. afternoon. In less than 24 hours, more than 2,800 people expressed interest in getting vaccinated. PCPS has approximately 14,000 employees.

“The response really shows the tremendous resolve of our employees,” Teddra Porteous, associate superintendent of human resources said. “They’ve been bravely working throughout this pandemic and performing many important roles in our educational system. They’re eager to better protect themselves and others, as well as help the community return to some sense of normalcy. Vaccinations will help make this a reality.”

The online survey will help the Florida Department of Health get an idea of how many doses to request from the federal government for PCPS employees. At this time, PCPS does not yet know if the doses will be the Pfizer vaccine or Moderna vaccine, officials said.

PCPS employees 65 and older will be given first priority when the vaccine becomes available. Gov. Ron DeSantis has placed vaccine priority on residents 65 and older.

Many other employees are eager to receive the vaccine, including those who have underlying health conditions or other high-risk factors,” Porteous said. “We are working to make the vaccine available to any employee who wants it, but this will take time because there is tremendous demand nationwide. We are doing whatever we can to secure doses as quickly as possible.”

Several schools will be chosen to serve as employee vaccination sites. Specific days and times will be set aside for vaccinating employees. Vaccinations will be performed on a drive-thru basis. Employees should bring their PCPS badge and make sure they’ve registered online before arriving.

To fill out an online form, click here.