FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COVID-19 Information Contacts
February 22, 2021 Public Information Line: 828-764-9150
Press Release Website: www.burkenc.org/COVID-19
Burke County Moves into Modified Phase 3 – Teacher Priority Group
Morganton, NC - Governor Roy Cooper announced earlier this month that the state will be moving into a modified Phase 3. Beginning Wednesday, the State is giving priority to Pre-K through 12th grade teachers and school staff along with childcare settings staff.
The Burke County Vaccination Team, in partnership with Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge, Burke County Health Department and Burke County Emergency Services, will be working with both public and private school systems this week to get teachers, school staff and childcare staff to be vaccinated as safely and quickly as possible.
The team will not be hosting one clinic specifically for teachers but will be working with the school systems to make it convenient for the teachers to attend the public vaccination clinics being held at Freedom High School. The school systems will take care of scheduling their staff and they will be prioritized based on their age, health conditions, and/or working with special needs kids.
Anyone in Priority Groups 1 or 2 are still eligible to schedule an appointment.
The Vaccine Call Center is open Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 358-4454.
“I am grateful to all of our educators and school personnel for going above and beyond in this pandemic to care for children and help them continue to learn,” said Governor Cooper. “Starting with a smaller number of Group 3 frontline essential workers helps providers streamline vaccine distribution effectively and efficiently.”
States must vaccinate people in groups due to limited supply. North Carolina is currently vaccinating people in Groups 1 and 2, which include health care workers, long-term care staff and residents and people 65 and older. In the coming weeks, providers will continue to vaccinate these groups. More than 40 percent of North Carolina’s residents 65 and older have been vaccinated.
The state plans to move to Group 3 - frontline workers on March 10.
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