50 signatures reached
To: The Advisory Committee On Immunization Practices
Make teachers a priority group for Covid-19 vaccine and re-open schools safely
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has the opportunity to ensure that our nation’s school can open quickly and safely by prioritizing teachers and support staff in phase 1B of the vaccine rollout plan.
Why is this important?
56.4 million children and their families have been suffering without in-person school for almost a year. The fastest way to end that suffering is to get teachers vaccinated quickly. Teachers are essential workers and giving them high priority to receive the Covid-19 vaccine in phase 1B is the only way to ensure that all of our schools can reopen safely and quickly.
The loss of in-person school has already impacted the mental health and growth of this generation of students. Most American kids are showing some signs of mental health problems and millions are significantly behind in academic and social development. Other kids face significant hunger and food insecurity due to the loss of school meals. Parents also rely on teachers and schools to provide child care when they need to work during the day. Without this resource, families have been forced to reduce their work hours or leave their jobs, losing income they need to pay their bills.
Students need to return to school as fast as possible, but we cannot achieve that goal without making sure that teachers and support staff are given the protection they need to return to the classroom.