Updated: 6:39 PM EST Mar 11, 2021
What was initially scheduled as a two-day event, is now completed in just one day.Giant Eagle and Pittsburgh Public Schools say roughly 1,400 teachers and support staff are scheduled to receive vaccinations at Heinz Field by the end of the day at 7 p.m. Thursday. Giant Eagle partnered with Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) to hold a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Heinz Field for teachers and school district staff. Watch the report in the video player above.The clinic is using the two-shot Pfizer vaccine. "You can't do what you do as a teacher online. We can do the mechanics, we can get through the window a little bit, but you got to be together," says Carrick High School teacher, Bob Underwood.In total, as many as 3,000 educators and other school district staff are receiving the vaccine; half are given the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at Obama School, the remaining teachers and staff receive Pfizer vaccine at the Heinz Field clinic, all on Thursday.The latter will return in two weeks for their second shot, after receiving their first shot today.PPS employees who receive a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Heinz Field this week will have an appointment for their second dose at Heinz Field 21 days after the first dose.Vaccine plans for educators and staff at other school districtsGiant Eagle Pharmacy hopes to be able to extend appointment availability at Heinz Field to all southwestern Pennsylvania educators and school staff as soon as Monday, March 15. The pharmacy retailer will communicate details on how qualifying school employees can schedule appointments once available vaccine is confirmed.Second doses for all Heinz Field participants to-date remain as scheduledAs educator-focused Heinz Field vaccination efforts evolve, all those who have already received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at Heinz Field will still receive their second dose at the facility on the date previously communicated to them. Giant Eagle Pharmacy and the Steelers are partnering to ensure that all those receiving either their first dose or second dose at Heinz Field have a safe and well-organized COVID-19 vaccine experience.