Polk County Schools nurses have been helping local COVID-19 vaccination efforts as the district begins preparing for its employees to be innoculated.
School nurses recently joined Polk County Division of Public Health’s vaccination effort held at Tryon International Equestrian Center, helping provide the COVID vaccine to healthcare workers and others in Phase 1a of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services protocol.
School nurses have also been involved in contact tracing efforts and other activities supporting Public Health in their fight to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“I can’t say enough about the tremendous effort and long hours our school nurses have put in since the pandemic started,” said Polk County Schools Superintendent Aaron Greene. “They have been in the thick of things from the beginning, helping both our schools and the Polk County Health Department. They continue to serve tirelessly, selflessly and without complaint.
“On behalf of Polk County Schools I offer our sincere appreciation to all our school nurses for their dedication to the health and safety of our students, staff and community.”
Polk County Schools nurses include:
Courtney Edney – Polk Central Elementary
Debbie Gilbert – Sunny View Elementary
Amanda Rice – Tryon Elementary, Saluda Elementary
Emily Pereira – Polk County Middle
Jennifer Huskey – Polk County High School, Polk County Early College
Peggy Franklin – Pre-Kindergarten, District Office
Kathy Harding – Polk County Schools Health Director
(Harding, Huskey and Gilbert are pictured above)
Local health officials expect to soon begin offering vaccinations to Polk County Schools employees age 50 and over as part of the NCDHHS Phase 1b. Any school employee who is interested in receiving a vaccine in any phase must first complete the Division of Public Health’s online survey.
That survey is available here: County health officials will reach out to survey respondents to schedule their vaccination as each phase is reached.
More information about each phase of the NCDHHS plan can be found here.
Nurses Jennifer Huskey, Peggy Franklin, Kathy Harding and Debbie Gilbert prepare to administer vaccinations 
Courtney Edney prepared for helping local efforts by receiving the COVID-19 vaccine
