Raleigh, NC – About 400 teachers, school staff and daycare workers received their first coronavirus vaccines in Wake County on Wednesday, the first day that educators were eligible in the state.
“I was surprised that I was chosen so quickly,” said Jennifer Hyatt, an elementary school teaching assistant. “I feel like I can breathe, you know, a sigh of relief, because it’s been a long year.”
A few days ago, it seemed that educators would have to wait a little behind tens of thousands of health professionals and people aged 65 and over who had already applied for vaccines. But after Wake County officials reviewed the list and removed those who had signed up several times and others who had already been vaccinated elsewhere, only 100 or more names remained, allowing teachers to get in line immediately.
About 12,500 educators have already signed up for vaccines in Wake County, and about 3,000 of them have appointments scheduled, officials said.
“I think we’re really turning a corner in terms of our ability to keep up with the flow of people who need it,” said Matt Calabria, chairman of Wake County Commissioners Council. “We will be able to get past educators very quickly and make sure they are vaccinated so they can go back to the classroom and feel more comfortable when they are there.”
Tawana Francis, a preschool teacher, said she is protecting her 3-year-old students and their families by being vaccinated.
“I feel like I’m doing my part to get back to some kind of normalcy,” said Francis.
She has already contracted the coronavirus and said she doesn’t want to risk getting sick again.
“When you are a certain age and have underlying problems, because I am diabetic, every day I hoped and prayed to be well because when you hear that the numbers are still increasing, you are concerned,” she said.
Keith Sutton, chairman of the Wake County Board of Education, said it will take some time to vaccinate so many of the school district’s 11,000 teachers and 9,000 other school staff who want to be vaccinated.
“It will take a while, mainly due to the size of Wake County and the supply,” said Sutton.
As for Hyatt, his mother is 85 years old and the pandemic kept them apart.
“I will be able to see my mom soon,” she said. “I will be more relaxed when I see you. This will be great. “