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Forney ISD vaccinates 600 employees at drive-thru clinic
Many teachers and staff aren't wasting any time getting in line to get their vaccine.
FORNEY, Texas - Many teachers and staff aren't wasting any time getting in line to get their vaccine.
Some 600 Forney ISD employees got vaccinated on Thursday.
There is no special allotment set aside for school employees, but they now qualify under 1B and can get the shot wherever its offered.
A drive-thru vaccination hub in Kaufman County began offering the Moderna shot to Forney ISD teachers and staff in response to a mandate from the federal government.
Christina Wiley, a Forney ISD employee, had COVID in December. She was one of the first in line to get the shot.
"It's really important for me to get it, and I'm thankful to Forney ISD and the county because I sure don't want to go through that again," she said.
During a media briefing Thursday, Imelda Garcia with the Texas Department of State Health Services said those who work in pre-primary, primary and secondary schools, headstart and early headstart programs qualify.
"This includes teachers, staff bus drivers and other staff who are in those environments as well as those who work as or for licensed daycare providers," she said.
Garcia said school workers can get the vaccine anywhere it’s being provided, such as county vaccination hubs, pharmacies and doctor's offices.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in his jurisdiction registered teachers who live in 17 zip codes identified as high-risk areas will be included on the priority list. But Jenkins says he is still waiting for doses from the state.
Garcia added that they will be allocating vaccines to those school districts that have registered as vaccine providers.
Like Arlington ISD, the district will give interested employees the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Monday, March 8. The location is to be determined.
RELATED: Arlington ISD to vaccinate employees Monday
The state is getting more than one million vaccines next week. About 200,000 are from Johnson & Johnson alone. State health officials say it's the biggest one-time allocation thus far, making the shot more accessible.
Garcia said educators are not required to get the vaccine. She also said with the production of vaccines quickly increasing, they may have an announcement about group 1C later this month.
RELATED: Teachers, daycare workers now eligible to get COVID-19 vaccine in Texas