Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, tells “Axios on HBO” that states should prioritize teachers for vaccinations as part of reopening schools for personal learning.
Between the lines: Weingarten declined to say to whom teachers should be given priority.
- “When we say that it is important to prioritize personal learning, then the teachers and bus drivers working in places that are reopening should be prioritized,” she said.
- In previous statements, Weingarten said that teachers should be vaccinated along with others in the 1-B priority group.
AFT is the second largest teachers’ union in the country, which equates to 1.7 million members in cities such as Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.
- Last September, Weingarten told Axios she would support the demand that teachers be vaccinated before returning to class.
- She later backed that off, arguing that while she supports vaccination, she also acknowledges that some teachers have been put off by misinformation.
- According to a recent survey, 67% of AFT teachers said they have already been vaccinated or plan to be vaccinated as soon as possible. Sixteen percent say they either don’t plan to get vaccinated or aren’t sure yet.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to add to Weingarten’s previous statements that teachers should be vaccinated in the 1-B priority group.