Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now say teachers should not receive COVID-19 vaccines before schools can safely reopen.
Teachers’ unions across the country – including in places like Los Angeles and Chicago – have opposed the idea of teachers returning to classrooms without proper measures, including vaccinations.
What are the details?
According to a CNBC report Wednesday, newly appointed CDC principal Rochelle Walensky says teachers must not be vaccinated against COVID-19 before schools can reopen.
Speaking at a COVID-19 White House press briefing, Walensky said: “There is growing evidence to suggest that schools can reopen safely and that reopening safely does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated. Vaccination of teachers is not a precondition for reopening schools. ”
She also explained that a CDC advisory committee placed “1B” teachers – like key workers – to receive vaccines, placing them second to receive the first injections.
Jeffrey Zients, co-ordinator of President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 working group, echoed Walensky’s sentiments on Wednesday, insisting the president was “very clear” about his position that he wanted schools to “reopen and remain open.”
“That means every school has the equipment and resources to open safely,” he said during the meeting. “Not just private schools or schools in rich areas, but all schools.”
“Congress needs to do its part to make sure we can safely reopen schools and keep them open,” he added, and called on Congress to adopt Biden’s COVID-19 response plan.
Last week, the CDC said there was “little evidence” of widespread transmission of coronavirus in schools, as long as appropriate precautions were taken – such as masking, social distancing, sanitation and adequate ventilation.
Biden has previously pledged to reopen K-8 schools for personal training in the first 100 days of office.