Chatham School Nurses Begin Getting Vaccinated Against COVID-19

CHATHAM, NJ — Nursing staff for the School District of the Chathams began receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. Officials hope that New Jersey will make all school staff eligible for vaccines soon, Superintendent Dr. Michael LaSusa said at Monday's Board of Education meeting.

"We’ve had several nurses already receive their first dose of the vaccine," LaSusa said. "Others are in line to do that, and we are waiting for further direction, if you will, over when the rest of the staff will open up in the 1B group."

Health-care employees, such as school nurses, are eligible to get COVID-19 vaccinations in New Jersey as members of Group 1A. Phase 1B includes "frontline essential workers" such as teachers, support staff and daycare workers.

The state has only opened 1B eligibility for police and firefighting professionals as of Tuesday morning. While the state remains in Phase 1A of vaccinations, state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said the state will allow for some overlap in administering vaccines to certain groups. Read more: NJ Expands COVID-19 Vaccines As State Begins Move Into Next Phase

New York began allowing teachers to get vaccinated Monday against the coronavirus. Read more: NY Teachers Can Get Coronavirus Vaccines As Soon As Monday, But It Could Take Months To Reach All Of Them

According to the state Health Department, 17,290 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Morris County as of noon Tuesday. The state count stands at 233,555 doses administered — 212,096 first doses and 21,289 people who received second doses.

Related articles

• NJ's COVID-19 Vaccine Mega Site In Morris County Opens
• NJ's COVID Vaccine Totals, New Sites: See How Your Area Is Doing

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