Schools should not wait for every teacher to be vaccinated for COVID-19 to reopen, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday.
Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said it was “important” that educators receive the vaccine, but did not need to resume classes.
“It is clear that it is not a sine qua non. You can’t say that we will not open schools unless all teachers are vaccinated “, Fauci told CNN presenter Jim Sciutto.
Fauci said states should give priority to teachers for vaccinations, while following other health guidelines, such as masking, sanitation and social distancing.
“They are a priority in terms of essential staff, but we believe we can move forward as we vaccinate teachers, but it doesn’t have to be that if they’re not vaccinated, you can’t open the school,” Fauci said.
Fauci’s recommendations are in line with the new guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for school return.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the CDC, told reporters that vaccinating teachers is “an extra layer of protection,” but to focus on other public health recommendations.
“We know that most groups in the school have appeared when there are violations of wearing a mask,” Walensky said.
The CDC released its guide to reopening schools last week.