Elizabethtown, N.C. – Bladen County Schools has announced the BCS COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics scheduled in collaboration with the local Bladen County Health Department. On Wednesday, February 24, BCS staff will be able to visit the clinic site at the local health department, based on a pre-scheduled appointment time, to receive their first dose of the Moderna vaccine. Additional clinics will be held on Thursday, February 25, and Friday, February 26.
This is an excellent opportunity for BCS staff and is a critical step in the district’s safety planning and school operations. “We are extremely grateful to Dr. Terri Duncan and her staff at the health department for their advocacy work in securing the vaccine for Bladen County educators. The safety of our students and our staff is our top priority, and we believe this vaccine is the next step for safety planning,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Jason Atkinson.
In order to be prepared and ready once the vaccine was available for educators, in January 2021, BCS sent out a vaccine interest survey and provided the results early on to the local health department. On February 10, Governor Roy Cooper announced that North Carolina would begin vaccinating teachers and other essential workers later in the month.
BCS School Nurses will assist the local health department with the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. Susan Lanier, BCS School Nurse, stated, “Our School Nurses are dedicated to serving our staff during this pandemic and are happy to assist and support measures available to help combat the risk of COVID-19.”
The Bladen County Health Department is administering the Moderna vaccine. For maximum benefits and to be considered fully vaccinated, staff will need to receive both doses as scheduled, which is 28 days after the first vaccine.
At this time, BCS is on Plan A, a four-day week schedule for students PreK-4th grades, and Plan B, an “AA/BB” hybrid schedule for students in 5th -12th grades. Unless under doctor’s orders or medical conditions prevent it, teachers are delivering instruction with both plans from
their classrooms.
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