MONROE — Just weeks shy of the one-year anniversary of Green County’s first confirmed COVID-19 case, employees at the School District of Monroe are able to see brighter days ahead following the district’s vaccination clinic March 5.
Approximately 230 staff members from the district’s 5 schools, as well as outside employees such as delivery and bus drivers received the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination. About an additional 60 district staff members had already received either their first or second dose of the vaccine.
The clinic was a collaborative effort between the district and the Green County Health Department, a culmination of months of cooperation and constant communication between the two entities.
“[Green County Public Health has] been wonderful to work with and the partnership between the county health department and the school district has been very strong,” Waski said. “We’re excited that we’re able to get people who want to be vaccinated, vaccinated today.”
About 85% of the district’s eligible staff members opted to receive the vaccine.
While some staff members received their second dose of the vaccination Friday, the majority of those at the clinic were receiving the first of the two-dose vaccination.
The second dose should be given 28-31 days following the first, so the district will hold a second vaccination clinic April 5.
According to the CDC, the Moderna vaccine is 94.1% effective at preventing COVID-19 following the second dose.
For many of those vaccinated at the clinic, the shot acts as an extra layer of protection as the Board of Education will vote March 8 to increase student capacity at the middle and high schools, a move that took place at the district’s elementary schools in early February.
“It gives you peace of mind,” Monroe High School English Teacher Carolyn Schultz said. “Having that extra layer of protection once we get that second dose too really makes you feel a little safer. It gives you a good feeling going into that change in capacity here at the high school.”
Monroe High School Health Assistant Nicole Carlino worked together with Waski and the health department to run Friday’s clinic.
“Working with the health department to get our staff vaccinated gives me hope,” Carlino said. “I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
