Wolf says schools vaccine effort over
112,500 of estimated 200,000 workers inoculated in ‘great success”
A drive to get COVID-19 vaccines into the arms of teachers and other school workers across Pennsylvania has been successfully complete ahead of schedule, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Friday.
At a press conference at the Luzerne County Intermediate Unit, the governor said 112,500 school workers have received the oneshot Johnson & Johnson vaccine over the past three weeks as part of a state initiative aimed at safely reopening schools.
“This is a great success, and I am so proud of everyone who made it happen,” Wolf said. “We know that teachers and students want to be back in the classroom where students can learn, laugh and grow with their friends. Completing our special vaccination initiative is a big milestone for Pennsylvania, one that will better protect schools, families and communities.”
There are about 200,000 school workers in the state. Some received vaccines through other avenues, and some declined a vaccine.
Wolf said that the successful vaccine initiative is a move toward a return to normalcy.
“Vaccines are the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to this pandemic, and with the completion of this special initiative, we are one step closer to the end of that tunnel,” he said. “That is something for everyone in the commonwealth to celebrate.”
Wolf announced at the beginning of March, just after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine received emergency approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, that Pennsylvania would be setting aside it’s allotment of 94,600 does of the new vaccine for school workers.
Another 30,000 doses sent to retail pharmacies was earmarked for early childhood education workers and child care workers.
To administer the vaccines, Wolf called on the state’s 28 local intermediate units, including the Berks County Intermediate Unit. They were tasked with setting up mass vaccination clinics that were operated with the help of the Pennsylvania National Guard and AMI Expeditionary Healthcare.
Wolf’s goal when he announced the initiative was for every school worker who wanted a vaccine to get one by the end of March. The governor said that goal was met before the close of the month.
The BCIU hosted a weeklong clinic at its Muhlenberg Township facility, which
Wolf visited on March 15.
More than 4,800 doses were administered during the clinic, and more were dolled out during a second, one-day event held on Monday.
Appearing alongside Wolf at Friday’s press conference was Rich Askey, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, who called the work of the intermediate unit clinics “extraordinary.”
“Today is a turning point in the lives of our schools and our students here in Pennsylvania, and PSEA’s members are so excited about what lies ahead,” he said. “Some schools are reopening their doors after many months of remote instruction, while many more are expanding their schedules to bring students back into the classroom more days of the week.
“This is happening thanks to everyone who took decisive action one month ago to get vaccines out to those school employees who want them,” he added. “You have helped ensure a safer environment for in-person instruction in our schools” protecting the health of educators, support professionals, students, and their families.”
The completion of the school worker vaccination initiative is expected to free up further shipments of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for the general public.