La Feria News

La Feria ISD employees receive vaccine

By Nelda Briones
LFN

On March 2, 2021 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had determined that “vaccines are an important tool to help stop the COVID-19 pandemic,” and in order to address this important public health issue, the HHS Secretary directed all COVID-19 vaccination providers that are administering COVID-19 vaccine purchased by the United States as follows: All COVID-19 vaccination providers are directed and required to make available and administer, as one of the currently eligible groups, COVID-19 vaccine to those who work in pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools, as well as Head Start and Early Head Start programs (including teachers, staff, and bus drivers) and those who work as or for licensed child care providers, including center-based and family care providers. The policy change came after President Joe Biden urged states to prioritize teachers on vaccination lists. “My challenge is this, we want every educator, school staff member, child care worker to receive at least one shot by the end of the month of March,” Biden said at a recent news conference. According to the Cameron County website, the county has been in communication with area school districts, charter schools, and others in an effort to help identify how many area teachers are in need of the COVID-19 vaccine. Cameron County will successfully allocate Moderna vaccines to the following school districts: Rio Hondo ISD, Santa Maria ISD, Marine Military Academy, Santa Rosa ISD, Jubilee Academies, La Feria ISD, South Texas ISD, Harmony Schools, Port Isabel ISD, Idea Public Schools, Los Fresnos CISD, Brownsville ISD, Harlingen CISD, San Benito CISD, and Neighbors in Need of Services, Inc. “For the past two months now, we have vaccinated individuals at our County clinics following the guidance and priority groups as identified by the State of Texas and the CDC. Teachers not being identified as a priority group has been a concern of ours and we’re glad to have received updated guidance from the State of Texas. We believe that vaccinating our teachers means we are one step closer in providing that safeguard not only in the classroom setting but also at home,” stated Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino, Jr. On Saturday March 6, 2021, La Feria ISD in partnership with Cameron County and the City of La Feria were able to provide 160 doses of the Moderna vaccine to district employees that requested one. Seven of the district nurses administered the vaccines under the direction of Cameron County. There are about 100 additional vaccines that are needed to complete the needed vaccines for the rest of the staff in the district. The district is working with Cameron County in planning a second clinic to ensure all personnel have the opportunity to receive their vaccine.

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