Speeding up vaccinations for education workers

The county reserved 20% of their doses for those working at schools

Yolo County is speeding up its efforts to vaccinate those who work in education against COVID-19.

The county reserved 20% of its current vaccine allotment this week, which amounts to 800 doses. The county is partnering with the Yolo County Office of Education, the county’s five school districts, Woodland Community College and Dignity Health Woodland Clinic to expedite these vaccinations, according to a statement from Public Information Officer Jenny Tan.

This is higher than Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to set aside 10% of all doses for those in education.

Dignity Health Woodland Clinic operated private clinics Friday and Saturday in order to vaccinate those already working in classrooms, on campus, or who will be returning to campus soon.

The school districts and the YCOE have given names of those who qualify to Dignity Health in order to schedule appointments.

Education workers are prioritized for the coronavirus vaccine as part of Phase 1B, tier one which includes those who are at risk of exposure to COVID-19 due to their occupation. They were given the green light to begin receiving vaccines on Feb. 16. Those who are already working on campus will get the vaccine first, and then the county will work to vaccinate those planning to return soon.

“I am really excited about our partnership with Dignity Health Woodland Clinic to quickly vaccinate education workers,” stated Yolo County Public Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson. “Getting students back to in-person learning has a myriad of health and educational benefits, and vaccinating school staff will support this group in feeling more comfortable returning to classrooms.”

Education workers will be prioritized in the following order, according to Tan:

▪ K-12 education workers already working on school campuses

▪ Workers in afterschool programs on already working on K-12campuses

▪ Workers in higher education already working on campuses

▪ K-12education workers not working on school campuses but planning to return soon

▪ Workers in afterschool programs not yet working on K-12campuses but planning to return soon

▪ Workers in higher education not yet working on campuses but planning to return soon

“Vaccinations are an important layer of safety for our educators, including childcare providers,” stated Yolo County Superintendent of Schools Garth Lewis. “We are grateful to Yolo County and Dignity Health Woodland Clinic for prioritizing vaccine doses for our teachers and classified staff. I continue to encourage all education workers to get vaccinated when appointments are offered to them.”

Yolo County residents who work in education and have not yet scheduled an appointment nor received a vaccine are directed to contact the Yolo County Office of Education.

For more information on the county’s vaccine distribution, visit yolocounty.org/coronavirus-vaccine or call Yolo 211.