Gwinnett Public Schools is offering $500 as an incentive to staff members who are vaccinated. | Adobe Stock
Gwinnett Public Schools is offering $500 as an incentive to staff members who are vaccinated. | Adobe Stock
In an initiative to put more focus on vaccinations, the Gwinnett school district is offering $500 as an incentive to staff members who are vaccinated.
Gwinnett County Public Schools said the new measure was enacted in consideration of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, the main reason behind which is the delta variant of the virus.
According to a news release from the district, all the employees who had opted for vaccination in the earlier part of this year are also eligible for this incentive, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
"As we are in the third school year impacted by the pandemic, now, more than ever, it is important for our children to be in school and learning in person," Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts said in a statement to FOX 5.
With 179,943 students, Gwinnett is the state's largest school district, FOX 5 reported.
According to a school district release, participants in the initiative will receive the Pfizer vaccine and thus will have to take two shots.
The incentive will be available to all full-time employees, contracted speech-language pathologists and contracted cafeteria staff, FOX 5 reported.
Retirees are also eligible, but they will be getting 49% of the incentive, reflecting their work hours, FOX 5 said. Substitute teachers will also be eligible for the incentive if they work for at least 45 days during the school year, according to FOX 5.
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