Texas Border Business
EDINBURG – The Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District announced on Monday that approximately 4,300 of the District’s teachers and staff had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
“I am pleased to announce that all Edinburg CISD employees who wanted to get vaccinated have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine,” said ECISD Superintendent Dr. Mario Salinas. “Of our 5,000 employees, over 4,300 wanted a vaccine. This means that 100% of our staff that is back on campus working that wants a vaccine is vaccinated.”
On Wednesday, the Texas Department of State Health Services expanded those eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine to include all school staff.
“Our teachers, administrators, cafeteria staff, custodial staff, and anybody that is associated with the school district in terms of employment is eligible, including substitutes,” Salinas said.
“It is a great accomplishment,” said ECISD School Board President Miguel “Mike” Farias about the program to vaccinate employees. “But I have to give credit where credit is due, which is to our excellent superintendent, the work of the nurses, the District’s work of starting this program back in December and making staff a priority.”
Farias added that the District’s designation of being a Texas COVID-19 vaccine provider and its partnerships with Hidalgo County, the City of Edinburg, DHR Health, UTRGV, and Walgreens contributed to the program’s success in vaccinating employees.
As a Texas COVID-19 vaccine provider, Edinburg CISD is expected to receive 100 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the next few days.
On Thursday, the District distributed wristbands to all those who had not yet obtained a COVID-19 vaccine, who DHR Health inoculated on Sunday.
“This is amazing that the District is doing this for the staff,” said Edinburg North High School Principal Mark Micallef. “This is just that extra little bit of security and safety that they’ve asked for.”
“I think everyone is going to feel relieved,” said De Escandon Elementary School Principal Ruth Torres. “Everyone is going to be at least a little bit more relaxed, and it’s going to really allow us to feel comfortable receiving more students in the classrooms and at schools.”
