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Leon Schools' Hanna: Teachers Need COVID-19 Vaccine Priority, Too

LCS Board Chairwoman Joy Bowen, Superintendent Rocky Hanna, City Manager Reese Goad, Mayor John Dailey and County Administrator Vince Long meet in the city commission chambers (11/30/2020). Streamed via Facebook
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LCS Board Chairwoman Joy Bowen, Superintendent Rocky Hanna, City Manager Reese Goad, Mayor John Dailey and County Administrator Vince Long meet in the city commission chambers (11/30/2020). Streamed via Facebook

More than 14,500 Leon County residents have contracted COVID-19 since March and 1,400 are being tested daily. Those stats are from Monday’s meeting between the city, county and Leon School District. The state of Florida is making plans to start distributing COVID-19 vaccines as they become available with healthcare workers given priority. Leon County School Superintendent Rocky Hanna says teachers should be high on the priority list as well.

“I don’t know how much autonomy we’re going to have at the local level, but we’re asking a lot of them, not unlike other essential workers in our community. So in my mind, they should be right there at the top of the list for a vaccination when one becomes available,” Hanna said, in response to Mayor John Dailey's question about where the county stood on COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans.

Leon County Administrator Vince Long says he’s in contact with state emergency response officials and will provide more information about vaccines as it becomes available.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has said the state won’t force anyone to get a vaccine. Still, Republican Rep. Anthony Sabatini has filed a bill that would eliminate the state’s power to require vaccinations during pandemics.

Meanwhile, County Commissioner Rick Minor remains concerned about infection rates. The U.S. is in the midst of another spike in cases and so too is Florida.

"There is a perception that people might be able to relax or let their guard down," Minor said. "And that could not be further from the truth."

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Lynn Hatter is a Florida A&M University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Lynn has served as reporter/producer for WFSU since 2007 with education and health care issues as her key coverage areas.  She is an award-winning member of the Capital Press Corps and has participated in the NPR Kaiser Health News Reporting Partnership and NPR Education Initiative. 

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