Over 90 Percent of HCS Employees Vaccinated Against COVID-19
Submission Date: November 5, 2021
Release Date: For Immediate Release
Contact: J.D. Hardin, 770-957-6601 ext. 01161, john.hardin@henry.k12.ga.us
(Release # 0022-11-2021)
Over 90 Percent of HCS Employees Vaccinated Against COVID-19
Henry County’s largest employer, state’s 7th largest district sees over 4,800 employees earn $1,000 incentive
HENRY COUNTY, GA – The greatest mitigation strategy against the spread of COVID-19 continues to be vaccines, according to public health officials, and now Henry County Schools can share that 92 percent of its workforce is fully vaccinated against the virus. The announcement was made by district officials after a two-month push to increase the number of educators fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
“We have worked diligently since the beginning of the pandemic to ensure an on-campus learning option for our students and families, and that is only possible when we have a healthy workforce,” said Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis.
Henry County Schools utilized various mitigation strategies since the beginning of the pandemic in an effort to provide safe learning environments for students and staff all across the district. Thanks to the measures enacted, 75 percent of the 2020-2021 school year operated with an on-campus, in-person learning option available, and that was during the period of time without full public access to a vaccine choice. Vaccines did not become available to the first licensed medical employees in the district until January of 2021, and more broadly to educators until March of 2021.
Since the first vaccines were made available for employee groups in the district, a steady number of employees made the personal choice to become vaccinated. To help make vaccines convenient to educators, Henry County Schools utilized its own school nurses as a part of a Closed Point of Distribution for COVID-19 vaccines – the only school district in Georgia to do so. Over 2,250 educators received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine on campus during the March distribution partnership with the Department of Public Health, Piedmont Henry Hospital, and Moye’s Pharmacy.
While the number of employees taking advantage of the school district’s March 2021 on-site vaccination was significant, district officials realized that driving the number of vaccinated employees even higher would help secure stable learning options for the coming school years.
With the one-time pay incentive of $1,000 for any employee receiving full vaccination status by the end of September, the percentage of vaccinated employees took a sharp turn upward and has resulted in 9 out of every 10 employees having the greatest level of protection against the COVID-19 virus. The district’s investment in a vaccination incentive is an investment in employee health, workforce stability, and steadiness in the educational experience of students and families.
“We know that being vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best way to stay healthy and prevent serious reactions to the virus. It also allows a person to reduce their time away from work which may otherwise have occurred as a result of quarantining requirements or any symptoms they may experience as a result of a breakthrough case,” added Davis.
“From a district standpoint, it is extremely important that as we continue to provide a world-class education during a pandemic, we have a healthy workforce and provide an uninterrupted learning experience for our students. We are thankful that so many of our employees made the personal choice to protect their health by getting vaccinated. Their actions, by extension, are a part of the greater effort to Keep Henry Healthy.”
To provide the one-time pay supplement for employees receiving the vaccine, Henry County Schools officials will use federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds which were allocated to school districts for the purpose of providing in-person learning options for students. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals who are fully vaccinated lessen their personal risk of getting COVID-19 or experiencing serious symptoms or hospitalization if they contract COVID-19. Additionally, employees who are fully vaccinated generally are exempt from quarantine protocols if deemed a close contact due to exposure to a new positive case of COVID-19.
“We are thankful that our Henry County Board of Education has such an appreciation for the work and impact of our educators,” stated Davis. “Our teachers and support staff have been a steadying force for each of our school communities across the county, and we look forward to continued health and success for every child, in every classroom, at every school.”
For more information on Henry County Schools, visit www.henry.k12.ga.us.
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