Some Ohio school districts reporting 55% of staff interested in coronavirus vaccine
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Despite the vaccine rollout, some central Ohio parents say they’re still worried about sending their kids back to class. So, ABC 6/FOX 28 On Your Side found out how many educators said they’d be willing to take the shot.
Of the 6,094 employees surveyed at Columbus City Schools, 55% indicated they would get the Coronavirus vaccine. 26% said they would not sign up for a shot. 19% said they were still not sure.
MORE: Gov. DeWine outlines plan to vaccinate staff in Ohio's schools
In mid-January, Hilliard City Schools told its board of education that 60%+ of its staff indicated they would get the vaccine. This week, HCS told ABC 6/FOX 28 On Your Side that the number has increased to 80%.
Out of 900 employees, 75% in Reynoldsburg City Schools said they were interested in a shot.
The second-largest school district in Franklin County, South-Western City Schools, told ABC 6/FOX 28 On Your Side it requested 2,600 doses of the vaccine for next week which will cover 82% of its employees. District representatives said numbers were also based on a survey they conducted of the 3,100 staff.
New Albany Plain Local Schools polled 693 employees of the 700 eligible for the Phase 1B distribution and found 84% will receive the vaccine.
Worthington City Schools found 90% of its staff will receive the vaccine this week so the district requested 1,300 doses.
Bexley City Schools employs 350 eligible for the shot this week and requested 330 doses. 94% of staff indicated they wanted the vaccine.
A mother who has four children enrolled in Groveport Madison Schools said she’s yet to send her kids back to class even though hybrid learning resumed Monday of this week.
MORE: Rollout of vaccinations for educators misses some Central Ohio districts
80% of teachers and staff in the district indicated they’d receive the vaccine. The mother who did not want to reveal her identity still doesn’t feel schools are safe.
“You don’t really know who has it, who doesn’t have it, which teachers do,” she told ABC 6/FOX 28 On Your Side. “Then, there are those children around.”
Several school districts did not poll their staff when it came to the coronavirus vaccine such as Westerville and Dublin City Schools.
Representatives with the Ohio Department of Health asked each district for the number of eligible employees and interested employees to help plan for the vaccine distribution. There will be at least three clinics distributing vaccines to school staff and educators in Franklin County next week.
