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RSU 18 Superintendent Carl Gartley made no secret of his hope to get his staff inoculated

After the FDA gave emergency-use approval for coronavirus vaccines last December, RSU 18 Superintendent Carl Gartley made no secret of his hope to get his staff inoculated as soon as possible against the deadly virus.

That hope has become a reality in recent days, largely on the strength of a community partnership between the school district and a local pharmacy company. “I would say, if I had to throw out a percentage, that 85 to 90 percent of our staff has received the first vaccine – possibly more by now,” Gartley said.

Earlier this month, Shane Savage and three other representatives from Savage’s Pharmacy, held the second of two vaccination sessions in RSU 18, administering the vaccine to more than 140 RSU 18 employees at that time, according to Savage.

This latest clinic, coupled with an earlier session in which 30 staff members received the vaccine, essentially addresses everybody in the district who wanted to get the shot, according to Gartley. Gartley added that some RSU employees had previously been vaccinated at other sites, including local hospitals, pharmacies, and Walmart stores.

Savage and his crew will administer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster shot in April to RSU 18 employees that received the first one this month.  “To be able to know that my entire staff almost will be fully vaccinated (by the end of April) is a huge relief,” Gartley said.

Once teachers are fully vaccinated, Gartley said they will be able to continue teaching in the classroom even if they are found to be a close contact to a person who has tested positive for coronavirus.

Savage, who owns and operates Savage’s Pharmacy with father John “Bud” Savage, said the state initially enlisted the services of his and other independent pharmacies to reach underserved high-risk populations across the state. Those populations included nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and HUD housing complexes. In many cases, however, the amount of vaccine provided exceeded the number of people living in such facilities. Savage said the state gave his pharmacy and other independents authorization to use the surplus to vaccinate educators.

So far, he said, his pharmacy has administered the vaccine in RSU 18 and SAD 49 (home of Fairfield’s Lawrence High School) and has plans to do Waterville Public Schools next.

Savage said he likes the ability to hold vaccine clinics in school districts because of the efficiency such facilities make possible.

“We can do 400 to 500 people in a day if I have the right place to stage the clinic,” he said.

Gartley said he would jump at the opportunity to arrange vaccine clinics for students in the district but at this point that remains just a hope.

However, Gartley said he is optimistic about the potential for RSU 18 to hold classes in traditional fashion when the 2021-22 school year starts.

 “I think that is a real possibility,” he said about no longer requiring staff and students to wear masks in the classroom. “I don’t think it is a guarantee, but it’s a possibility.”

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