New York State will distribute the COVID-19 vaccine in phases based on need and risk. Phase 1B opened up vaccinations to a wide range of essential frontline workers including teachers. Many teachers like substitute teacher, Maryanne Krasinski, came to the MVCC Jorgenson Center to get their vaccine.

"The spots are going very fast, and it took me quite a while to get a spot, so you know you can’t delay. You have to move quickly," she said.

SUNY Morrisville teacher, Gregory Sydoriw, and several other people said it took about an hour and a half before receiving the vaccination.

"It was a little bit longer than I thought it was going to be considering they were only scheduling 7 appointments at any given time, but I’m sure it didn’t help that people were showing up early before their actual scheduled time," he said.

Time is what County Executive Anthony Picente is hoping for. He believes the County’s COVID-19 numbers should come down before schools consider reopening their doors.

"With the limited vaccines, and as they come in this overall sporadic way, you know do a specific vaccination pod for teachers. Maybe somewhere down the road. Later on that could occur, but right now it’s a matter of getting the vaccine to as many people as we can, and that’s in really the most vulnerable and the frontline people," said Picente.

The County Executive is planning on meeting with school districts throughout the area on Thursday, Jan.14. Ultimately it is up to each individual school district to decide on whether to return to in-class learning or not.