Teachers and staff members at Lakewood Public Schools will be offered the COVID-19 vaccine without registering through the state.

The schools have remained open since September for full-time in-person instruction.

“It's our continued effort to help our staff,” says Lakewood Public Schools spokesperson Michael Inzelbuch. “The staff has been overwhelmed. They have been excited they have come to work."

Next Monday, any teacher who wants a vaccine can register on the form sent to all district front-line employees and receive the Moderna shot at the high school auditorium, bypassing the wait and state registration process.

“There's no other school district in Ocean or Monmouth County that has done this at a school district site made specifically for the staff,” says Inzelbuch.

The announcement comes a week after eight staff members in the district, most from Ella G Clarke Elementary School, tested positive for COVID-19.

"There's not going to be a post pandemic for Lakewood,” says Inzelbuch. “The rest of the state, they are studying what effect this is having on kids, it's had an effect on our kids too but guess what, they are in school learning."

Inzelbuch says 200 high-risk staff members previously received the vaccine, and 350 more have already signed up for next week's shots.