Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Charlotte

Charlotte NC

08 February, 2021

12:42 PM

Description

Press release from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: 2/9/2021 Excited, relieved and thankful. That's how dozens of CMS teachers and staff felt on Saturday, Feb. 6, after receiving their first COVID-19 vaccine at McClintock Middle. Thanks to a partnership with Novant Health, the district was able to schedule appointments for as many as 165 employees age 65 and older. "We remain committed to advocating for student-facing staff to receive access to the vaccine as soon as possible," said Superintendent Earnest Winston. "This is the first of hopefully many opportunities we will be able to provide to our employees." Lisa Weilker, a staffing technician, said the process was smooth and organized. She received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and felt comfortable with the efficacy and safety of the vaccine. She had mild arm pain at her injection site that was relieved by Advil. When she got in her car to drive home, Pat Benetar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" was playing. "I felt like that was the perfect punctuation to this event," she said. "The Novant Health staff were very organized," said Elsie Maurice, Harding High English teacher. "There was no line. It was easy and quick. I feel fine with no reaction to the vaccine at all. I am very confident that this vaccine, along with other precautions, will keep us safe." Even though the vaccine's full effects require a second shot and waiting period, Terrie Lyons is relieved and feeling a bit more comfortable with returning to in-person instruction. She is a science teacher at Piedmont IB Middle. "I am healthy but my husband has some health issues and I was so worried that I would bring it home to him. I feel so much better about that." Lyons has advice for teachers and staff who may be concerned about the safety of the vaccine. "Don't be," said Lyons. "I was prepared to wake up feeling like a truck ran over me. My only side effect was some slight arm pain. I know so many people that have had serious cases of COVID. A friend of mine lost her son. We can't ever get back to normal life unless we all step up and do our part and get the shot." Amy Bartley, speech language pathologist at Hickory Grove Elementary, said most of her family in Kentucky have been fully vaccinated without significant side effects so she felt the vaccine is safe. "The whole process took 45 minutes from check in to being monitored for 15 minutes," she said. "I was happy to see how many people were there to get their vaccine. The only side effect I had was a sore arm, but that went away quickly." Employees who were vaccinated on Saturday were able to schedule their appointments for second vaccinations later this month. Employees who are not yet eligible for vaccination can complete a pre-screening process through Novant and Atrium Health even if they are not associated with a practice in those health systems. Individuals who pre-screen will be notified when they are eligible. Pre-screen through Atrium Health here and Novant Health here. To hear more from our employees who were vaccinated, check out the photo gallery on the CMS Teachers and Staff Facebook page. This press release was produced by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The views expressed are the author's own.