The governor’s decision acknowledges that inoculations are a key factor in safely returning to full in-person learning
Vermont Business Magazine The union representing school employees today applauds the decision to vaccinate educators beginning next week, saying the move validates pleas from front-line educators and administrators. Governor Scott today announced that along with those with severe chronic health conditions, in-school staff and teachers and those in emergency services will be able to receive the new Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine at school or some local clinics or can sign up for the two-shot vaccines available through Walgreens (federal pharmacy program). They will be able to sign-up starting March 8.
Vermonters with high-risk medical conditions who are over 55 can begin signing up on March 8 and those over 16 with medical conditions can begin March 15. Both of those groups can get any of the two-shot or Johnson & Johnson or the Walgreens shots. Qualifying people can go to healthvermont.gov. This represents Phase 5 of the state's vaccination plan.
Don Tinney, a high school English teacher who serves as president of Vermont-NEA, stated: “Our 12,000 members, along with administrators, superintendents, and school boards, have been loud and clear on the need to vaccinate school employees. Indeed, vaccinating school employees is a key factor in any decision to offer full in-person instruction.
“For almost a year now, Vermont’s educators have worked tirelessly to keep schools – if not school buildings – open for learning. Most of the state’s schools already offer at least some type of in-person instruction because of the hard work of school employees to implement health and safety measures. Adding vaccinations to the mix will only improve the pandemic mitigation practices already in place.
“Nobody wants to see students return to the state’s classrooms more than teachers, paraeducators, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, school nurses, and administrators. But, as we’ve said all along, this can only happen when it is demonstrably safe to do so. Vaccinating school employees is a big step in the right direction.”
Human Services Secretary Mike Smith said there are about 35,000 in the school, child care and emergency services group and another 70,000 in the health conditions group.
Smith said it is vital to student education achievement and to their mental health.
"Our kids are not OK," he said.
Governor Scott said he would expect all these groups to have their vaccinations completed around the end of April and everyone in Vermont 16 and older by the end of July.
Source: MONTPELIER – Vermont-NEA 3.2.2021