Eastern Ohio Schools Among Last in Line for COVID-19 Vaccine

By ROBERT A. DEFRANK

For the Sunday News-Register

ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- Ohio's school employees have the opportunity to receive COVID-19 vaccinations in February, but local counties are not high on the list.

Employees of some of Belmont County's school districts reacted with disappointment and even anger upon learning Eastern Ohio counties were not among those where school personnel will receive the first dose of vaccine next week. On Friday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine the schedule for counties and school districts across the state to be eligible for the shots.

Vaccines will be available to Monroe County school employees, including those of the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District, Mighty Grace Private Academy and St. Sylvester Actholic Grade School, during the third week of February. In Harrison County, Harrison Hills City School District and Conotton Creek School District also can begin administering the shot to staff members the week of Feb. 15.

Belmont County's school districts will have to wait a bit longer to give employees the shot. Vaccines will be available to them the fourth week of the month, beginning Feb. 22. The eligible schools and districts include: Barnesville, Bellaire, Bridgeport, Martins Ferry, Shadyside, St. Clairsville and Union Local public schools as well as the Belmont-Harrison Career Center and private institutions Green Pastures Classical School, Harrell Family Academy, Lone Oak Lifetime Learner's Academy, Martins Ferry Christian, Olney Friends School, Scientia Classical Academy, St. John Central Academy, St. Mary, St. Mary Central, Tiber Keep and West Academy.

Jefferson County's schools also are slated to receive staff vaccines the fourth week of February. They include: Bishop John King Mussio elementary and junior high, Buckeye Local, Steubenville Catholic Central, Dugan Academy, Edison Local, Hatcher's Academy, Indian Creek, Jefferson County, Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Jefferson County Christian, Jefferson County Educational Service Center, Mary Seat of Wisdom Montessori, Steubenville City and Toronto City schools.

Belmont County Deputy Health Commissioner Robert Sproul has said his department is communicating with area schools to arrange staff vaccinations as soon as doses are available.

Harrison and Monroe county health departments could not be reached for comment.

Sproul said he was not informed about how the state assigned priorities to counties and school districts. When asked about the process of scheduling counties, state officials only said the limited supply dictates the decision.

"It all goes back to what Governor DeWine said," Melanie Amato, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Health, said. "Vaccine is incredibly scarce, and we simply don't have enough to vaccinate everyone at the same time. Therefore, this will be a rolling process, just like it has been during other vaccination phases. This rollout schedule is a heavy logistical lift that aims to ensure the maximum number of people can be vaccinated in the shortest amount of time."

DeWine's goal is for all schools to be back in session with in-person classes five days a week by March 1.

Area superintendents said their districts will persevere.

"We will continue to move forward with students here five days per week," Bridgeport Exempted Village School District Superintendent Brent Ripley said. "If our cases should rise, we will continue and move to a hybrid or remote model if needed based on the number of cases in grades levels. We will continue to remain optimistic, practice good social distancing, use of masks and safety protocols throughout the remainder of the year. Outlasting this pandemic will be a marathon, not a sprint, and we are ready to continue to press on."

Walt Skaggs, superintendent of St. Clairsville-Richland City School District, said the timing of staff vaccines should not impact the district's plans.

"We will continue to follow protocols and take it one day at a time," he said.

Shadyside Local School District Superintendent John Haswell said he was happy to see a "light at the end of the tunnel," adding that about 60 percent of his employees are awaiting the shots.

"There's people who wanted vaccinated in our district for over a month now, so I am glad to see it will be coming in February. ... We're glad to have the vaccine. Everybody wishes it was quicker, but we've had a plan with the Belmont County Health Department for a long time now. ... It's frustrating us just because we got pushed back to Week 4. ... We have had kids five days a week the last two weeks now, and you would think you want to get vaccine to the folks who actually have kids in school too, as quickly as possible."

Sproul reported there have been 4,915 total cases in Belmont County since the pandemic's onset, with 800 people currently in isolation at home with active cases. There have been 3,976 recoveries, 49 people are hospitalized and 90 residents have died after being infected with the virus.