Austin teachers should be treated like the essential workers that they are. As the COVID-19 vaccines are made more widely available, we believe Austin’s teachers should be prioritized for vaccination at the earliest possible date - as a part of Group 1C.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) called for teachers to be included in Phase 1B, alongside frontline workers and senior citizens. But while 32 states have followed these guidelines in their own distribution plans, Texas has not -- yet we still have an opportunity to prioritize teachers for vaccination in Group 1C. As the COVID-19 vaccine is made more widely available, we believe Texas and the Austin region must prioritize teachers for vaccination at the earliest possible date.
Additionally, as the Austin region plans for vaccine roll-out for Groups 1C and Group 2 -- with the hope for priority for educators -- we encourage Austin Public Health to consider a mass educator vaccination effort in coordination with local districts. This effort could entail an educator vaccination week, campus vaccination sites and drive-throughs, collaboration with school nurses who can act as vaccine providers, and coordinated messaging.
Join us in supporting Austin teachers!