Teachers are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and many have already made appointments to be vaccinated through jointly coordinated events by Cobb Schools and Cobb & Douglas Public Health. In fact, hundreds of Cobb educators scheduled appointments within the first 15 minutes that the sign-up opened.
To give teachers even more opportunities to be vaccinated, members of the Cobb community have stepped up to coordinate more drive-thru vaccine events for teachers.
After school let out for the day, Cobb educators lined up March 9 at Innovation Compounding Pharmacy in Kennesaw for their first dose of the vaccine.
“This vaccine effort is really dedicated toward the teachers. The governor has allowed us to do so, and so, we are going to vaccinate teachers. You all do such a great job taking care of our kids and your students, and so, hopefully, this will help you and get you back to a normal way of life,” said Shawn Hodges, PharmD, President & CEO of Innovation Compounding.
Hodges especially appreciates the work of Cobb teachers because he has seen them in action. He is a parent of a Cobb student.
Other parents and community volunteers turned out to support teachers at the vaccine drive-thru, which was scheduled over two days and will include similar events for the second dose.
“We appreciate our teachers here in Cobb County. We love you, and we are so excited you finally have this opportunity to be vaccinated,” praised Amber Snow, Bullard Elementary School Co-PTA President.
Snow could tell that the teachers were happy, and she was right.
“I feel so grateful. I feel so blessed that our community is so willing to support the teachers and make this available for us. Our parents are the best. They are so supportive in everything we do. We really have the most amazing parents and school,” applauded Kendra Berry, Bullard Elementary School Target teacher, after she was vaccinated at the drive-thru event.
Other teachers had similar responses.
“I think it is awesome. It is a convenient location and a convenient time. It is an exciting thing to get done. I think it is a step in the right direction for all of us,” said Sanders Elementary School educator Bonnie Interligi.
Bullard principal Dr. Patrice Moore heard from other teachers at Bullard who also expressed appreciation for the event coordinated by the school community.
“It is amazing that the Governor opened up the opportunity for educators, and we had a chance to come out the very first week. We are so appreciative for how flexible and how much the Hodges family has offered by allowing us to have this opportunity.,” said Dr. Moore, echoing her teachers. 
