Hope Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Bobby Hart, fourth from left, recognized HPS personnel, school nurses, volunteers and partners from Express Rx in Hope for their work in a successful COVID-19 mass vaccination clinic with Superintendent’s Award of Excellence coins. Recipients included, left to right, Deanna Gilbert, HPS Child Nutrition Director; Geri Maxfield, RN, volunteer; Marilyn Sitzes, Pharmacist, Express Rx, Hart, Renee Sells, RN – HPS District Nurse; Marcia Widel, RN – Yerger; Lauri Mathis, RN – Beryl Henry; Galen Perkins, CEO Express Rx; Eddrick Lard, RN – HAPS; and, not pictured, Eric Crumbaugh, PharmD, Director – Clinical Business Development, Express Rx. – Ken McLemore/Hope Public Schools

HOPE – The Hope Public Schools will continue its partnership with Express Rx of Hope in three additional mass COVID-19 vaccination clinics for Phase 1-B recipients.

Clinics are currently scheduled for March 12, March 19, and April 2 at the Hope High School MAC Complex from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

REGISTRATION

Registration through Express Rx of Hope at https://ExpressRxVaccinationAppointments.as.me/1330HopeHigh online is required. Registration by phone is available at 870-777-4643.

Persons without a return email address should use [email protected] as their return email address for registration purposes.

Completion of the COVID-19 Consent Form provided at www.hpsdistrict.org online is also required. A copy of a current driver’s license, insurance card and Medicare card must be presented at the door.

Individuals receiving the second dosage of Moderna vaccine must also present their COVID-19 vaccination record card.

HPS District Nurse Renee Sells said both Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines will be available at the Friday clinics.

“Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will be available on request for the clinic this Friday,” Sells said. “This is a one-shot vaccine.”

The HPS/Express Rx partnership provided 237 vaccine doses in its first mass clinic on March 5, according to Sells.

“Let me emphasize there is no out-of-pocket expense for the vaccine,” Sells said. “People should bring their insurance card to the clinic; however, if they do not have insurance, the vaccine will be available at no charge.”

She said wheelchair service will be available at the door of the MAC center, which is handicapped accessible.

ELIGIBILITY

Persons in Phase 1-B and any remaining from Phase 1-A eligible to receive vaccine, per Arkansas Department of Health guidance, include:

--Individuals age 65 and over.

--Public education employees in grades K-12, higher education, and child care facilities.

--Healthcare workers.

--Long term care employees and staff; residents of facilities.

--Hospital employees.

--All classes of First Responders, Firefighters and EMS personnel; law enforcement officers.

--K-12 health clinic workers; college/university health clinic workers; school nurses.

--Dental clinic, pharmacy, home health, private care/hospice, dialysis, and correctional in-patient care staff.

--Blood donation center staff.

--Food or agricultural processors, as well as grocery/meal delivery workers.

--Postal/package delivery services workers.

--Public transit workers.

--Workers at houses of worship.

--Manufacturing workers.

--Individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Hope Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Bobby Hart emphasized the importance of the HPS/Express Rx partnership.

“We are so very thankful to be able to partner with Express Rx,” Dr. Hart said. “They have been great and we hope to be able to work with them for future clinics.”

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

All participants in the Friday clinics will be required to comply with COVID-19 protocols including:

--Wear loose fitting shirt or blouse for easy access to upper arm.

--Wear a face mask.

--Observe social distancing.

--Be prepared to remain on site for 20 minutes after vaccination.

Parking at Hope High School will be directed to designated areas from the HHS entrance at the north side of the campus on South Main Street.

Questions concerning the vaccination clinic should be directed to Hope Public Schools District Nurse Renee Sells, RN, at 870-777-3451, ext. 612.