Salem Seeks Vaccination Help For School, Childcare Workers

SALEM, MA — Salem is looking for help getting educators and childcare workers vaccinated for the coronavirus.

The city, school department and teachers union are looking for volunteers through Salem Together to help find and book vaccine appointments for those who are eligible, but whose responsibilities prevent them from spending hours each school day looking for appointments.

"Salem residents have stepped up time and again throughout this pandemic," said Mayor Kim Driscoll, who chairs the Salem School Committee. "Through Salem Together, our volunteers have delivered food and groceries to homebound residents, placed thousands of well-being check-in calls to Salem seniors, and distributed critical information about vaccines and testing.

"Now, we're asking residents to sign up to adopt a few of the workers who are instrumental to the academic and emotional wellbeing of our city's children. If you're able, please help as we work to find vaccination appointments for as many of these essential employees as quickly as possible."

While Mass Vax clinics are now available for pre-registration, other clinic sites that can be booked more immediately are still booked on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those willing to "adopt" an educator can fill out a form here and will soon be contacted with information and links necessary.

Volunteers must have computer access and must be comfortable navigating the forms.

"It is imperative that we go back into our buildings on April 5 with as many mitigating strategies in place as possible, including a vaccination, so that we can continue to educate the children of Salem," Salem Teachers Union president Ann Berman said.

Those who work in K-12 public or private schools in Salem, whether as a teacher or staff, or who work in early childhood education or childcare, can fill out this form to make themselves "adoptable" for vaccination search.

Those who have an appointments scheduled or who have been vaccinated should not fill apply.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with the city of Salem and the Salem Teachers Union in designing a system to assist our staff in accessing vaccine appointments so that we can safely return our students and staff to a full day of teaching and learning," Stephen Zrike, Superintendent of Salem Public Schools, said. "We appreciate how committed the residents of Salem are to stepping up and supporting our schools."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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