Almost 3,200 school employees get vaccines

MEDINA — Almost 3,200 school employees from across Medina County received the first of two Pfizer vaccination shots Thursday at dual mass clinics set up at Medina and Brunswick high schools. In 21 days, they might reconvene at the same locations for their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, said Jason Briscoe, director of pharmacy operations at Discount Drug Mart, which was tapped to run the clinics to coincide with state plans to vaccinate all teachers in an effort to open Ohio schools by March 1. Brunswick Superintendent Mike Mayell said there have been "preliminary discussions" about doing a second round, but said they wanted to see how day one went. "I don't see any reason why we wouldn't duplicate this process," he said. "Our biggest concern seems to be that more people have an adverse effect on the second vaccine, so we'd want to do it on a Friday so we wouldn't have a large number of staff sick the next day for school." Much will depend on when Discount Drug Mart gets the vaccine. "I would recommend we do the same process, but I'm not the decision-maker," Mayell said. When Gov. Mike DeWine's office approached Educational Service Center of Medina County Superintendent Bob Hlasko about implementing the countywide plan, he told state officials, "We have a plan and are ready to go." He said he believes that's one reason why Medina County was selected to be one of the first counties in the state to roll out the mass vaccinations. Hlasko said he wanted to do it all in one day so students didn't have to miss more than one day of school. Briscoe said about 1,800 employees were scheduled to get vaccinations at Medina, including those from Around the Sun Montessori, Black River, Cloverleaf, Medina, Medina County Career Center, Northside Christian Academy, Sacred Heart of Jesus, The Nurtury and Wadsworth. Mayell said about 1,450 shots were dispensed in Brunswick to educators from Brunswick, Buckeye, Highland, Medina Christian Academy, the ESC, Saint Ambrose and Saint Francis Xavier. "I don't think it could have gone any better," he said. "Working with Drug Mart and our administration has been extremely smooth. We've gotten a ton of people through. Nobody waited past their time, everything was on time and went smooth. Everybody worked well together. It was a great day." Mayell said 85 percent of the Brunswick staff was vaccinated. "I'm really proud of our staff, the way they stepped up and participated in this," Mayell said. "Obviously, we're not through. We've got a second to go, but once we get the second round, it's nice to know that the vast majority of our staff will be protected and we can start looking forward, from there, about how the instructional model will change at that point. "This is encouraging, the numbers in the county are going down, everything is looking good. I, honestly, can see our student body coming back face-to-face, every day down the road. Definitely after we get both vaccines done and see how the community spread is going. That's always been our goal, to get everybody back every day." Mayell got his vaccine and said he is very "pro-vaccine" and that it was a matter of when, not if, he would get it. "It wasn't even a decision for me to consider," Mayell said. "It was very smooth. I'm just happy I and Medina County could get it this early in the process, which is just a great thing." One Medina teacher who got her shot was A.I. Root Middle School physical education teacher Melanie Condosta. "This is a step in the forward direction to get the school year back to where it was," she said. "It's a privilege for us to get the vaccine. I want to thank all the health care workers here." There were about 30 Discount Drug Mart employees administering the shots in the gymnasium at Medina, including pharmacist Megan Levitt, who works in the Cuyahoga Falls store. She lives in Montville Township and attended Buckeye High School. Condosta, 51, said many of her students have questions and concerns about COVID-19. "It's a great learning experience for all of us. "It's been rough. It's been a roller coaster emotionally and physically. I'm so happy to be back at school. Everyone is glad to be back." In Brunswick, a husband-and-wife duo teaching at the new middle school, Scott and Dina Wenmoth, said the process was so smooth that "it seemed like (Discount Drug Mart had) done this before." They both knew the vaccine was something they needed to get not only for themselves but also for their parents and the students and families in the district, to get them back in person as soon as possible. "I think everybody is nervous with something that has never been done before, or at least we were," Dina Wenmoth said. "(But) we definitely were like, 'Let's do it, for sure.' I think we all know, as teachers, that having the kids back in full time is the best thing for them and us. Although everybody has their different thoughts and beliefs, one thing that all the teachers probably do really wish is that we could have all the kids back in the classroom full time." Scott Wenmoth reiterated Dina's thoughts on Thursday's vaccination efforts and gave his thanks that Medina County was included in this first round of school distributions. "We thought it was incredible that Medina County got chosen first," he said. "With the lack of vaccines in Ohio, just the fact that we got chosen first and had the first opportunity … we never thought that was going to be possible (this week). To have the opportunity to get this, I almost felt a little bit guilty in a way because we do get it before so many other people get it. It really is for the kids and getting everybody back into school because we need to be there." Briscoe said the clinics were a "remarkable opportunity" for Discount Drug Mart to partner with the state. He said they first met with state officials on Jan. 19. "We truly feel the sense of pride and community in this collaborative effort with leaders from the state, the Medina County Health Department, the Medina County ESC and all school systems within," he said. Briscoe said the 76 pharmacies in the drugstore chain have administered about 30,000 vaccinations to Ohio residents 70 and older, with many more to come. Hlasko said about 80 percent of school employees in the county agreed to get vaccinated. There was no incentive to get the vaccine and no penalty if they didn't. Medina Superintendent Aaron Sable admits it's been a very challenging year. "The safety and health of our staff and students is our top priority," he said. "Since January, we've had little or no spread (of the coronavirus) in our schools. The lack of spread led to the discussion to bring our students back (to in-person learning)." Contact reporter Bob Finnan at (330) 721-4049 or rfinnan@medina-gazette.com. Contact reporter Jack Kopanski at (330) 721-4063 or jkopanski@medina-gazette.com. Watch Gov. Mike DeWine's daily COVID update