Miami-Dade school workers to get COVID-19 vaccines this weekend

DORAL, FL – Miami-Dade school workers who are 65 and older will receive COVID-19 vaccines this weekend, according to the school district. 

Miami-Dade Public Schools has set up vaccination events throughout the weekend for teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, janitors and office staff, including part-time workers.

“Whether they are teaching, feeding, transporting students or maintaining our schools clean, our dedicated employees have always worked tirelessly to provide the best environment for all children,” Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said in a statement.

“Protecting the health and well-being of these essential workers is vital to ensuring student learning continues as we move towards stabilizing our community and the economy,” added Carvalho.

To cover the hundreds of Miami-Dade school workers who will get the shots, the school district has partnered with Jackson Health Systems.

So far, 700 workers out of about 3,000 eligible employees have already signed up to get vaccinated according to the Superintendent, as reported by the Miami Herald. However, not everyone will get vaccinated as some people is not interested. 

Those who are interested will be able to set up an appointment at one of Jackson’s three locations this weekend or in the days following as additional dates are to be announced. 

“In essence, we have dedicated lanes on dedicated days specifically and exclusively for 65 and older employees of our public school system. So it’s a much more efficient and effective way of drawing some of the most vulnerable elements of our workforce to a vaccination opportunity,” said the Superintendent, as informed by the Herald. 

Jackson Health President and CEO Carlos Migoya stated this partnership with the district is meant to make vaccines accessible for educators and school system employees, because they are “essential in our community and in the lives of our children.”

“This added layer of protection against the virus will help them continue to work and thrive in a safe environment,” he said.

But despite how essential school workers are, Florida has not yet focused on this population as the main priority continues to be healthcare workers, long-term care residents and staff and people 65 and older. 

For this reason, according to CBS4, the superintendent of Miami-Dade County as well as that of Broward, that also organized vaccinations events this weekend for school staff, are pushing Governor Ron DeSantis to make all school employees, regardless of age, a higher priority for the COVID-19 vaccine.