BASD vaccinations far exceed those of district residents
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
The Burlington Area School District didn’t mandate vaccinations for staff members.
Even without a mandate, staff members received the vaccine at a percentage far exceeding the district’s general population, according to numbers released last week by the district.
Jill Dreger, Director of Health Services, reported at least 377 of 441 total staff members, excluding substitute teachers and coaches, finished the vaccination series for a rate of 85.4%.
The district rate is nearly double that of the general district population, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, which reported 45.1% of people who reside in school district completed the vaccination series.
“Getting vaccinated has always been an individual choice,” said Dreger. “Giving staff the time and the fact that school staff were eligible earlier than the general public may have contributed to BASD having a higher rate.”
Dreger, who recalled when the state rolled out the vaccine to school officials in March, said staff members actively sought out the vaccine at the time.
“Many staff members were eager, excited and relieved when the Wisconsin state plan for vaccine rollout extended to school staff on March 1,” Dreger said. “Since the beginning of the school year, teachers across the country had uncertainty about COVID exposure in schools.”
Like many Americans, Dreger said, teachers recognized the vaccine as another mitigation and safety measure.
Dreger noted many teachers had the safety of their students in mind upon initial vaccine rollout when only adults were eligible to get the vaccine.
“Teachers care about their students and want to protect their students,” she said. “At the end of the school year, many students were not eligible to get the vaccine. Staff wanted to do whatever they could to remain in-person for learning.”
To read the full story see the Aug. 5 edition of the Burlington Standard Press.
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