Six fortunate teachers at Blair Community Schools received their first COVID-19 vaccination on Thursday from the Three Rivers Public Health Department at Blair High School.
“It's like winning the lottery,” teacher Jennifer Chikos said.
While the health department is still currently vaccinating those 75 and older, these six doses were remaining from a vial from a vaccination clinic in Blair and needed to be used.
The teachers receiving their first vaccines were Chikos, Trevor Templar, Tayler Haeker, Kelli Ray, Jennifer Fowler and Jennifer Brown.
All were grateful for the opportunity, citing the need to protect their families and their students.
“I was really excited to get it,” Ray said. “Our whole family situation has been skewed the last year, not being able to stay with family and being really careful. Not that I won't continue to do that, but just to think that there is a time in the near future that I can actually hug my mom and not have to worry too much.”
Fowler agreed.
“I would very much like to see my family other than on Zoom,” she said. “Just the thought that I could see them and not have to worry that I might be the reason they get sick.”
Supt. Randy Gilson said the district has had more than 200 teachers and staff register for the vaccine and are planning a larger clinic for a later date. A lottery system has been set up to determine when each teacher and staff member would receive the vaccine.
The district's nurses have already been vaccinated with other healthcare workers.
