Wake schools host vaccine distribution for educators Saturday

The district partnered with health officials to vaccinate school employees on Saturday in a familiar location: school buildings.

Banks Road Elementary teacher Rachel Foster says taking advantage of this opportunity was a no-brainer.

"I jumped on the opportunity and I'm happy to be here," she said.

Wake County educators and school staff reported to school on their weekend. Foster is teaching both in-person and remote classes right now, but says it's important to get vaccines as we move closer to full-time, in-person learning.

"I don't want to miss multiple weeks of school," she said. "We finally got the children back in the building and it's great to be back in the building with them."

School employees came in a steady stream Saturday to Knightdale High and Southeast Raleigh High to receive their vaccine.

Natasha Wilson, an Assistant Principal in the district, says getting the vaccine sets an example for others.

Millbrook High assistant principal Natasha Wilson says they're just doing their part.

"I feel like it is part of what I need to do to ease this pandemic," Wilson said. "I mean, people are hurting, people have died."

Foster says that with the shot, she can return to her class and her students with less worry.

"I have taken that extra step to safeguard myself, so I can then teach the children," she said.

Both Knightdale High and Southeast Raleigh High are located in zip codes with heavier documented COVID spread. Testing shows both have 9% positivity rates.