Gulfport School District vaccinating teachers

With Mississippi teachers becoming eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, the Gulfport School District distributed vaccines to teachers with the help of their community partners.

Gulfport Central Middle School Teacher Haley Whittermore said, “I got the vaccine today on my arm. It was great to get it because we have been waiting on it. All of the teachers are ready to do more hands-on stuff.”

The Gulfport School District partnered with Memorial Hospital Gulfport and the Singing River Health System to vaccinate all interested employees against the COVID-19 virus. Gulfport School District Public Relations Director Sandy Commer-East said, “When you vaccinate a teacher that’s in the classroom with 20 to 30 kids, you’re not just protecting the teachers, you’re protecting the students and that in turn protects the community.”

On Tuesday, with the help of Memorial, they distributed 300 first dose Pfizer vaccines to those with appointments. Lauren SantaCruz with Memorial Hospital said, “We are so excited to partner with the school district to help our educators. We’re happy to do it and put something together so quickly.”

The Gulfport School District hopes that vaccinating teachers will help bring an end to the pandemic. Gulfport Central Middle School Teacher Megan Lyons said, “We love loving our kids and it’s hard to do that with the social distancing and the masks.”

“Everybody has had to work really hard to make sure the children are getting educated safely and following protocols. I just want to get back to normal.”

Teachers who were vaccinated on Tuesday will wait for their second dose of the vaccine.