When Can COVID-19 Vaccine Be Given To Westlake Teachers?

WESTLAKE, OH — The Westlake Schools are able to receive their first shots of COVID-19 vaccine during the week of Feb. 8, state officials announced.

"We are very excited for our staff to have the opportunity to be vaccinated. Our local partner is Discount Drug Mart and we have been in conversations with them for the past couple weeks. Internally, we have been preparing with our nurses," said Superintendent Scott Goggin.

However, district officials are awaiting details on when staff can get vaccinated.

"We are ready for this opportunity and are just waiting for the specific date," Goggin told Patch.

School districts around Ohio were offered a chance to vaccinate all teachers and staff, if they agreed to reopen by March 1. While every teacher should receive at least the first part of the COVID-19 vaccine before their buildings reopen, the second shot could come after in-person classes have resumed.

“Vaccine is incredibly scarce, and we simply don’t have enough to vaccinate everyone at the same time. Therefore, this will be a rolling process, just like it has been during other vaccination phases, with a goal of administering all first doses by March 1,” said Gov. Mike DeWine.

Many Cuyahoga County schools are slated to begin receiving COVID-19 vaccines starting the week of Feb. 8. DeWine's office said most teachers will receive their first vaccine within seven days of their assigned vaccination date.

Teachers and staff will learn about their vaccination clinics through district administrators, the state said.