USA Health recognized for vaccinating Mobile County Public Schools staff
Following mass vaccine events for thousands of teachers, bus drivers and school staff, USA Health was awarded a Learning Leading Award from Mobile County Public Schools for its efforts to protect the community from the spread of COVID-19.
By Casandra Andrews
candrews@health.southalabama.edu
For our efforts to vaccinate educators and school staff at multiple mass clinics across Mobile, members of USA Health’s pandemic response team recently accepted a Learning Leading Award from Mobile County Public Schools, the largest district in Alabama.
“This is for partnering with us to vaccinate school employees during two Saturday drive-through clinics at the Mobile Civic Center and for the extra effort you put in by traveling to our transportation sites to vaccinate bus drivers,” said Rena Philips, director of communications for Mobile County Public Schools. “We’re grateful for your efforts.”
Understanding the public health need to vaccinate people as quickly as possible, USA Health began working with school leaders in Mobile and Baldwin counties early in 2021, hosting numerous mass vaccine events to focus vaccination efforts on educators on both sides of Mobile Bay. From bus drivers to cafeteria workers to classroom teachers, the health system’s focus has been to provide protection from COVID-19 to those who need it most.
With the help of more than 150 volunteers in February and then again three weeks later, USA Health administered more than 8,000 COVID vaccine doses to teachers, school staff and others who attended mass vaccine events focusing on educators at the Mobile Civic Center and at locations in Baldwin County.
In Mobile on March 6, Mobile County Public School System staff arrived throughout the day at the civic center arena for a drive-through event offering second doses of the vaccine. All told, more than 2,100 injections were given at the clinic.
Each year, Mobile County Public Schools recognizes top students, teachers, businesses and community partners during a red-carpet awards show. While COVID-19 canceled this year’s live show, 11 business and community partners were recognized and filmed for an upcoming video presentation. The video, which will include USA Health’s staff accepting an award, is expected to air on MCPSSTV.com later this summer.
Since Dec. 15, 2020, USA Health has provided more than 73,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination, the most of any healthcare facility in the area.
