NFA teachers, staff receive COVID-19 vaccines
Taftville pharmacy administers shots to nearly 200
Norwich — Nearly 200 Norwich Free Academy teachers, administrators and support staff members made their way to the Norton Gymnasium in small groups Friday to receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
“It does feel like a milestone,” said NFA job coach Wes Murphy, who also coaches boys basketball and boys’ and girls’ volleyball. “I’m able to do what’s needed to get back to our regular schedule and activities.”
Daisy Torres, a member of the janitorial and cleaning staff, said she was ready to get her vaccine. As a cancer survivor, she said she was “so happy” to sign up for the NFA mass vaccination clinic.
“I’ve never seen so many people so excited to get a needle in the arm,” said Jason Navallil, pharmacy manager at Nutmeg Pharmacy in Taftville, which coordinated the NFA vaccination clinic and administered the first doses of Moderna vaccine.
Navallil said once the state opened vaccinations for teachers, he contacted NFA and Nutmeg’s three other locations in Connecticut contacted school districts in their areas to arrange large-scale vaccination clinics. Other clinics are being held for the Higganum, Killingworth and East Haddam school districts.
“It’s for the community,” Navallil said. “That’s why I reached out to NFA.”
Nutmeg Pharmacy is vaccinating eligible people at the Taftville Pharmacy as well, with help from neighboring businesses. The Luis Pabon Dance Studio offered space, and employees at local businesses, including Hair Do’s hair salon, are volunteering to help with paperwork for recipients.
Nutmeg Pharmacy owner Greg McKenna alerted clients that there could be a delay in scheduling people in the 55-64 age bracket because the pharmacy was concentrating on teachers and older clients first.
NFA Head of School Brian Kelly, who was among the first to get the vaccine Friday morning, said 185 NFA staff members were scheduled to receive the vaccines Friday at Norton Gym. Some staff members already had received or scheduled vaccines elsewhere, he said, and 95% of NFA staff planned to get inoculated.
Most teachers were able to schedule their times Friday for a free period, mostly avoiding the need for substitute teachers in classes. The NFA second-dose clinic will be held April 2, a school vacation day, Kelly said.
NFA remains in the two days in-person, three days remote hybrid learning model, with English learners and special education students in person four days a week.
Kelly said NFA is aiming at returning to full in-person learning after spring vacation, which is April 12-16. The families of about 30% of students have opted for full remote learning.
Norwich Public Schools returned to four-day in-person learning last week and plans to return to five-day in-person learning next week, Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow told staff and parents Friday.
“We’re still surveying parents to see how they feel, and we’re being mindful of the precautions,” Kelly said of NFA.
“This is great,” NFA Diversity Director Leo Butler said, as he rolled up his sleeve for McKenna’s needle. “Obviously, this brings a lot of people peace of mind, and it brings security to our parents’ minds.”