Over a four day period recently, over 1,800 educators in Intermediate Unit 17’s region received vaccinations for COVID-19, according to Dr. Christina Steinbacher-Reed, executive director of the intermediate unit.

As part of a statewide initiative, intermediate units were tasked by the governor to play a central role in providing an opportunity for the vaccinations.

“As part of these statewide efforts, Intermediate Unit 17 partnered with local districts to vaccinate educators and staff from across Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan and Tioga counties,” Steinbacher-Reed said. The initiative included educators in K-12 schools or career technology centers as well as a number of private and non-public schools.

The state’s Department of Education identified those eligible as K-12 school staff and contractors. This would include paraprofessionals, cafeteria workers and anybody who interacts with students in those settings on a regular basis, Steinbacher-Reed noted.

“What we’re finding across the Commonwealth and local feedback from educators is that they’re excited to have the opportunity,” Steinbacher-Reed stated, when asked if educators seemed receptive to getting the vaccination.

“I can’t speak to specific districts or any of those pieces, but generally speaking educators are excited to have the opportunity to get vaccinated,” she added.

Host sites for the vaccinations were set up at three local school districts from March 12-15 to serve the 19 school districts two career centers and a number of non-public schools in IU 17’s coverage areas. The Williamsport Area, Southern Tioga and Towanda Area school districts hosted the sites.

“IU 17 is grateful for the partnership of our host districts which allowed for greater access to educators across our expansive geography,” Steinbacher-Reed said.

“This is the first round of educator vaccinations and again it is a very targeted initiative that is coming out of the governor and the COVID-19 vaccine task force. They designed this very specific initiative for educators,” she added.

During the first week in March, school districts and non-public schools surveyed their staff and contractors to determine interest in receiving the vaccine.

Based on that information, districts worked to identify those staff interested in receiving the vaccine and began communicating the registration process to staff, Steinbacher-Reed explained.

“We very quickly turned this around for the governor and this is what is considered our first round of educator vaccinations,” she said.

She added that the IU is waiting for guidance from the state, but “we are going to enter into round two where staff will be surveyed to determine if they are interested in getting the vaccine and they have not yet received it. They’re going to be asked to complete a survey to show that interest.”

“Based on the level of need, the Commonwealth will work with the intermediate unit to create a second round opportunity for educators with the statewide goal being by the end of April, all educators across the Commonwealth will have the opportunity to get the vaccine,” she added.

Across the state over 50,000 educators have been vaccinated as a result of this special initiative with more clinics still underway.

Steinbacher-Reed stressed that educators are not required to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Most of the employees at the Loyalsock Township School District who had signed up for the vaccinations received the shots, including those who had been on a waiting list, according to Gerald McLaughlin, district superintendent.

“We’re very pleased. A huge majority of our staff that signed up have received their vaccinations,” McLaughlin said.

He noted that the district is expecting to shortly receive information about the second round of vaccinations.

“If I had to provide an estimate to you, we’re down to probably ten folks that are still interested in receiving a vaccine. I would say by and large all of our teachers have been covered and many of the support staff,” he stated.

“Overall we’re very pleased with the results,” he added.

At East Lycoming School District, the staff has also been receptive to receiving the vaccine, according to Michael Pawlik, district superintendent.

“We did have a lot of folks sign up for the vaccine through the state,” Pawlik said, adding that he was appreciative of the governor’s initiative to provide the vaccine.

“We were also fortunate to have a lot of our staff already vaccinated for meeting some of the earlier criteria,” he noted. “I think even the folks who were a little leery about getting the vaccine, are a little more receptive to receiving the vaccine,” Pawlik said.

He is hopeful even more staff in the district will sign up for the next round of vaccinations, he added.