Hillsborough County Hopes To Draw Up Plan To Vaccinate Teachers

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — The Hillsborough County School Board and the Florida Department of Health-Hillsborough County are working on a plan to vaccinate teachers in the county, according to Dr. Douglas Holt, director of the DOH-Hillsborough.

At a news conference, Holt acknowledged the need to vaccinate teachers along with front-line health care workers and first responders. He said he's been in touch with Hillsborough County Superintendent of Schools Addison Davis on how this can be accomplished with the limited supply of vaccines the county is now receiving from the state.

The county received an allotment of 9,000 vaccines from the state this week but, as of Tuesday, all appointments for those vaccines have been taken by residents age 65 an up.

"Unfortunately, limited availability of vaccines is still anticipated over the next several weeks," Holt said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a vaccination plan that gives first priority to first responders, front-line health-care workers and residents of long-term care facilities. Second priority goes those age 65 and up, whether they are permanent residents or only live in Florida part of the year.

When asked about vaccines for teachers, DeSantis said teachers don't meet the priority criteria because they have the option to teach online instead of in the classroom.

Teachers, however, said online teaching jobs are few and far between. If they want to remain employed, they have no choice but to teach in the classroom.

See related story: 'I'm Terrified,' Says Tampa Bay Teacher As Coronavirus Rates Rise

"I hope I can tell you more later this week, or certainly by next week, about some strategies that we're going to be putting together," Holt said. "To vaccinate the teachers will take a joint effort with our medical community."

In addition to the allotment of vaccines being sent to county health departments, the Florida Department of Health is providing vaccines to areas hospitals including AdventHealth, BayCare, Tampa General and USF Health.

Additionally, CVS and Walgreens pharmacies are gearing up to receive vaccines. The vaccines have to be stored at a low temperature, so the pharmacies are brining in special equipment.

The federal government is also providing vaccines to federally approved community health centers including Suncoast Community Health Centers and Tampa Family Health Centers, which currently have the vaccine available at select locations.

Tampa Family Health Centers are located throughout Tampa and are providing vaccines to

• Patients, ages 65 years and older
• Patients who are caregivers, 18 years and older
• Patients who are health care workers, ages 18 years and older

Suncoast Family Health Centers in Brandon, Ruskin, Palm River, Wimauma, Dover, Plant City, Lakeland and Thonotosassa also received an allotment of vaccines for:

• Long-term care facility residents and staff
• Persons 65 years of age and older
• Health care personnel with direct patient contact
• Hospital providers, however, also may vaccinate persons who they deem to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19

The Hillsborough County School Board, Davis and the state's teachers' union, the Florida Education Association, have all written the governor asking him to place teachers on the priority list to receive vaccines.

"One thing everyone can agree on is that students learn best through in-person instruction," said the Florida Education Association in a news release. "This is why the CDC recommends that educators–teachers and staff alike–should have access to the Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices lists educators, school employees and childcare workers as “frontline essential workers” who should be prioritized for vaccinations.

"Unfortunately, Gov. DeSantis has decided to ignore the CDC's recommended vaccine priority list, choosing to play politics instead," said the association.

The association invites teachers and proponents of vaccinating teachers to sign its online petition.

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