The official rollout of COVID-19 vaccines for teachers and other school employees begins Monday across Oklahoma, while most teachers in the Tulsa-area will apparently have to wait for vaccine shipments delayed by last week’s blast of winter weather.
In order to promote participation, State Commissioner of Health Dr. Lance Frye will be speaking at a Monday morning news conference in Norman, where State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, current Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Jena Nelson and several 2021 Teacher of the Year Finalists will receive their first doses.
Districts from Bartlesville to Lawton have announced employee vaccine events beginning Monday, while many Tulsa-area districts, including Tulsa, Union, Jenks, Bixby, Owasso and Collinsville are still awaiting word from the Tulsa Health Department about when their employee doses will be allocated.
One exception is Broken Arrow Public Schools, which notified parents over the weekend that school buildings there will be closed on Thursday and Friday to free up any employee who wishes to get a shot.
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“Thanks to Governor Stitt’s office in conjunction with state and local health departments, BAPS will be able to offer all remaining employees the first round of COVID-19 vaccinations Thursday and Friday of this week with 1,400 doses ready to go,” states the district’s news announcement.
“We could not be more excited to give our teachers the choice to be immunized and back in the classroom, adding to the safe and healthy environment we’ve been fostering since the beginning of the academic year. Our hopes are that this will either eliminate or greatly reduce the need to pivot to distance learning for the remainder of the school year in classrooms in which masks are mandatory.”
Broken Arrow Superintendent Janet Vinson initially declined to answer questions on Sunday, but later Sunday evening, she said the district is getting its vaccine doses from its employee wellness check and flu shot vendor, called Total Wellness.
Charlie Hannema, a spokesman for Gov. Kevin Stitt, denied any direct assistance to Broken Arrow with the matter.
“My understanding is they are using a third-party health provider to actually administer the vaccines, which (Oklahoma City Public Schools) and others have done or are doing,” said Hannema, who used to work in the same role at the Broken Arrow school district. “We didn’t have anything to do with getting them vaccines or their administration schedule.”
The Oklahoma State Department of Health referred questions to the Tulsa Health Department about why other Tulsa districts have no dose allocations yet while Broken Arrow appears to.
OSDH Deputy Commissioner Keith Reed said in a written statement: “OSDH is taking a highly localized approach to administering the vaccine to teachers across the state over the next 2-3 weeks. Local health departments are working with the schools districts in their area to coordinate logistics based on the needs outlined by individual schools. We want to reassure all of our teachers and staff that there will be sufficient supply to vaccinate all those who wish to receive the vaccine by spring break this year.”
Tulsa Health Department Executive Director Bruce Dart said he didn’t know the source of Broken Arrow’s vaccine allocations because his department has yet to make allocations to any Tulsa County school district for teachers and other school employees who become officially eligible on Monday.
“THD will announce our plan for Tulsa County teacher vaccinations early this week,” Dart said on Sunday, noting that his department first has to contend with a backlog of nearly 9,000 individuals from weather-related cancellations last week.
“There are some providers in Tulsa County who have received direct shipments of vaccine from the State. We receive notification when those providers receive vaccine but do not always know who they are vaccinating.
“That’s basically how the long term care facilities received their vaccine.”
Gov. Stitt has repeatedly praised Broken Arrow Public Schools as a model for how large school districts could allow students into classrooms during the pandemic, while others have opted for distance learning modes.
Broken Arrow’s vaccine announcement included a kind of apology for disrupting in-person learning for staff vaccines.
“While we know this may be an inconvenience for some of our patrons, the dividends it will pay to get us through the end of the school year are immeasurable,” the news announcement states. “We thank our community for all of their patience, support and empathy during a year when pivoting has been the normal.’
Lawton Public Schools is also having a distance learning day on Monday because the Comanche County Health Department allocated enough first doses for its nearly 1,100 employees who signed up, said Assistant Superintendent Jason James.
Bartlesville Superintendent Chuck McCauley took to social media over the weekend to apologize to district parents for a last-minute cancellation of in-person classes on Monday, especially after such a long run of weather-related disruption last week.
The district was informed Friday morning by Washington County that more than 300 school employees will be vaccinated on Monday.
“I am grateful that our Bruin staff can be vaccinated Monday,” McCauley’s message reads. “I know it is a strain on our community to not have in-person classes until Tuesday after the challenges caused by Mother Nature. We are trying our best to serve our students, staff, and community.”
Tulsa Superintendent Deborah Gist sent employees an email on Sunday encouraging any who are eligible through tribal membership or veteran status to pursue vaccine doses through those connections and the blanket reassurance that “We stand ready to support vaccination for our employees as soon as we are given access to the doses we need to get that done.”
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Who is eligible currently?
As of March 29, all Oklahomans 16 and older will be vaccine-eligible.
What determines how many appointments are available?
The state is reliant on COVID-19 vaccines supplied by the federal government; officials reportedly are notified of shipments one week at a time. The limited supplies make it logistically impossible to schedule vaccinations weeks in advance. Oklahoma officials hope for a policy change that resupplies be based on states' “burn rate,” of how many shipped doses are distributed promptly.
States and tribal leaders are receiving federal shipments of vaccines based on population, OSDH leaders have said. Oklahomans with a CDIB card would go to a tribal health care center for vaccines.
I signed up at vaccinate.oklahoma.gov but never got an email confirmation of any kind — what should I do?
Confirmation emails are sent out in batches; users should receive one within 24-48 business hours of registering. “Emails are sent out over a span of time in the order in which registrations occurred,” the state said. “As a result, some emails may be delayed.” If you've waited at least 48 hours without having gotten a response, it could mean a data-entry error was made by the user during registration.
State and county health officials also have said most of these issues are resolved when the user checks their junk mail folder for messages flagged as spam.
I’ve been told I can make an appointment, but I went to the portal and there were none available within 100 miles — what do I do now?
First, if the portal has a link that says "No appointments available," click anyway. Possible glitches in the system might result in that message showing up even when appointments might be open outside the user's immediate area.
If you're still coming up empty, bookmark and keep checking the “Click here” link emailed to you, says deputy OSDH commissioner Keith Reed. The link does not expire and is the only method to check for appointment availability. No further emails will be sent.
When will new appointments be added to the online portal as the state is updated on the supply of vaccines expected to ship from the federal government?
A new round of scheduling should be available on the portal every Thursday. Starting 5 p.m. Wednesday through Thursday morning, new appointments are uploaded for distribution pods, said Mindy Spohn, OSDH vaccine facilitator.
Tulsa Health Department did not add appointments Feb. 10-11 for the coming week due to inclement weather.
Someone I know is unable to go online to access the vaccination portal — how can they make sure to get an appointment?
The state recommends that those unable to access the online portal ask a family member or friend with internet capabilities to assist them with the registration process.
Some churches have stepped up to help people without internet access register on the portal, as well as those who need a foreign-language interpreter. State officials have said a Spanish translation is forthcoming for the online vaccine portal.
How are 211 and LIFE Senior Services trying to help?
Call center staff at 211 can help Oklahomans connect to resources they may need to physically access the vaccine distribution sites, but they cannot schedule appointments. OSDH helped add to 211 staff, who can collect patients' contact info to pass on to local health departments for phone scheduling.
LIFE Senior Services is helping callers get scheduled by signing them up on the portal and receiving emails for the patient. Pictured: LIFE Senior Services activities director Amberly Villegas and Geneva Boling.
Who else is trying to help people book appointments?
Josh Wright, software developer from Norman, developed a text-alert system for Oklahomans as a companion site for the state's COVID-19 vaccine portal.
The vaccine-alerts.com site has 41,000 users, who have received 1.25 million text alerts, as of Feb. 5.
Can I show up at a vaccination site without an appointment to wait for someone to miss their scheduled time?
No, Tulsa Health Department and other sites say those without appointments are not welcome at known vaccination sites. THD says if someone does miss their appointment, those shots may be offered to first-responders in the area who have not been able to get vaccinated yet.
What happens if I am unable to make my scheduled appointment? Can it be changed?
Asking that residents strive to keep their bookings as time slots are in high demand, the state has said that those who miss their scheduled time will need to make a new appointment. Cancellations or scheduling changes can be made through the portal. “There’s been some difficulty with that,” Spohn said. “Sometimes you have to wait 24 hours to be able to get back in and redirect your appointment because it locks up. … That’s among fixes we’re working on on our end.”
At what point do I schedule my second dose or "booster shot"?
The answer seems to change depending on which site a patient received their first dose.
Second-dose appointments may be scheduled at the time of the first shot. It is not required to schedule booster doses through the portal. “Follow the instructions given when you got your first shot,” OSDH Deputy Commissioner Keith Reed said.
Second-dose appointments may also be made via the state portal, and users will be asked whether they need the Pfizer or Moderna shot. Some clinics have had scheduling issues for second doses, Spohn said, so officials are working to ensure those sites aren’t filling up with only first-dose appointments.
Tulsa Health Department says: “You are able to walk in for your second dose without an appt, provided you come at the same time as your first dose. Must bring your vaccination card with you.” Director Bruce Dart said those who got a Pfizer vaccine through Tulsa Health Department should try to come back to the same site 21 days after the prime dose; those who got Moderna should walk back into the same site 28 days after.
In Wagoner County, second-dose appointments cannot be made until one week before the patient is due for the booster shot.
I can't get an appointment for my booster dose when I am supposed to — is it OK to take it any later?
Those concerned about getting appointments exactly 21 or 28 days after their first dose don’t need to worry; if you’re a little late, it doesn’t cause you to have to restart the shots. You may just take a few more days to reach 95% immunity.
The state says it may take longer for second-dose appointments to show up in the system as those cannot be entered into the system weeks in advance. Because the timing of booster doses means a three- or four-week delay, those scheduling their booster dose via the online portal are told not expect to set the schedule right after the prime dose.
Can I choose whether I receive a Moderna or Pfizer shot?
Some clinics have both Pfizer and Moderna available, but basically it’s whatever is available at the time of the appointment at the site.
Will I be able to drive-through to get my vaccination or will I have to go inside a facility?
Mindy Spohn said the state is trying at each location to help patients with accessibility issues to be able to drive-through. “The problem with drive-throughs … it does limit our throughput because you have a 15-minute observation period.” She said some sites may have found ways to offer drive-through with observation, "but their ability to reach large numbers is limited because of that."
If I have already had COVID-19, do I still need to consider getting the vaccine?
The short answer is yes. Dr. Jennifer Clark, who leads Project ECHO’s COVID-19 data sessions, said the human body’s natural immunity isn’t fully reliable and can be erratic. She said the response a person’s body will have from the vaccine will be more reliable and robust relative to the body’s natural immune response. Monks recommends waiting 90 days after recovering, especially if those who received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma.
Do I still need to practice the three W’s after getting my vaccination?
Yes, it is vital for Oklahomans to continue to wear masks, wash their hands and watch their distance even after being vaccinated. The vaccine effectively protects recipients, but recipients may still be able to spread the virus to others. The CDC has not yet determined if or when it will stop recommending that people wear masks and avoid close contact with others to help prevent community spread.
Can you be a carrier of the virus after receiving a vaccination?
"We have to assume the answer is yes, you can. In other infectious diseases, this happens pretty commonly, though in others it does not. It won’t be known for another few months as we’ve gotten lots of people vaccinated and then tested with viral swabs," Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation President Dr. Stephen Prescott said.
Why do I have to wait 15 minutes before being able to leave after my vaccination, and what side effects are common?
Any adverse reaction that could endanger the patient's health should be evident within 15 minutes, so those receiving the vaccine must agree to observation during that time. Dr. George Monks, president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, said possible side effects include mild pain or swelling at the injection site, true of any medicine injected into skin. Other possible side effects include mild fever, chills, tiredness and headache. Monks said side effects are almost always mild and are more common in younger people or when receiving the boost dose. Monks said one can think of the symptoms as a sign that the vaccine is working.
How many vaccine doses have gone to waste in Oklahoma?
State officials say there is no problem with expiring vaccines; doses arriving each week are already scheduled to be distributed the following week. “We don’t have any vaccine that’s sitting on the shelf,” says deputy OSDH commissioner Keith Reed. On Feb. 9, he said only 247 cumulative doses had been wasted due to broken or leading needles and vials.
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