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Metro hospital ready to begin vaccinating teachers

Once given the OK from the state, Truman Medical Centers/University Health has said it is ready to begin mass vaccinations on metro teachers. The health system said once they can begin, it plans to conduct up to 1,000 shots for teachers each day.

Plans are in motion to start vaccinating Missouri teachers. One hospital is ready to go once the state gives the OK.

“What we’re excited about is the ability to immunize large groups of people very quickly,” said Charlie Shields, president and CEO of Truman Medical Centers/University Health.

Few groups are larger and more important than teachers and districts trying to get kids back full time.

Shields is president of the Missouri Board of Education, adding that Truman Medical Centers will do up to 1,000 vaccination for teachers a day.

“We’ll actually take nurses out, set them up in high school gymnasium, do the immunizations and watch the workers for a period of time to make sure there’s no reaction,” he said.

“They’ll be responsible for getting the teachers to the vaccination sites,” Shields said.

“It’s vital to the community that the vaccinations are made available for educators,” said Dr. Yolanda Cargile, superintendent of the Center School District.

“We have the plan. We’re just waiting for the go ahead and once we get that, we’ll work very, very quickly to make it happen,” Shields said.