Vaccination at Masterman: Teachers' Experiences And A Look Ahead

On December 15th, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney announced that teachers would be next in line for the vaccine after health care workers and nursing home residents. Nearly three months later, teachers are finally receiving their shots. Though not all students are eager to return, experts suggest that the vaccination of teachers may play the biggest role in reopening schools safely.

The vaccine sign-up process for Philadelphia teachers was at first marked by ambiguity and confusion. Ms. Waber recalls, “I pre-registered in early January, but never heard back.” Similarly, Mr. Tannen was frustrated and felt “left out” since “teachers in New York got the vaccine much in advance,” while Philly educators continued to wait. Mr. Gilligan agrees: “there was a lot of confusion about when and where to get the vaccine.”

Amid the confusion, personal opinions on the vaccine came into play. Ms. Russo expressed, “I knew I wanted to get it as soon as I could.” Similarly, Mr Gilligan, who “generally trusts science,” cited his enthusiasm to “get out and start socializing again.” Mr. Tannen, on the other hand, had his doubts due to the expedited time frame of the vaccine production, but his “skepticism went away after hearing the immense confidence people in the medical field had about it.” None of the teachers interviewed believed vaccinations should be made mandatory, but Mr. Gilligan thinks “it is reasonable for teachers to get it before they return to school.”

On February 8th, The School District of Philadelphia partnered with the Children’s Hospital to provide vaccination for teachers and other staff. Once all teachers received an email to register and were able to schedule their appointments, the process became much swifter. Regarding the vaccine administration itself, Ms. Russo exclaims “it was beautiful! The nurse was terrific and they made sure everyone was set up with their next dose before they left.”

Mr. Gilligan agrees, noting that “it went very smoothly. They made me wait for 15 minutes to see if I had a reaction.”

As the vaccine roll-out continues, optimism for a swift return to school is also growing among teachers. Ms. Elana is concerned about the health effects of virtual schooling: “online school is horrible for the mental health of students and how they are adjusting socially and emotionally.” Likewise, “interpersonal skills are very important for learning” says Mr. Tannen, who lists the struggle of “trying to engage with black boxes'' as one of the biggest disadvantages of virtual learning. Thus, it is no surprise teachers are enthusiastic about returning to school. Ms. Waber predicts “we might return by May,” declaring, “I’m so excited to get back to the classroom!”

In regards to the safety of returning, many teachers are torn. Mr. Tannen says he would personally feel safe returning to school but voices his concern “about middle school students for whom the vaccine has not yet been approved.” Similarly, Ms. Waber says she “would love to return if safety is made a top priority.” Ms. Russo, who would also feel safe if proper precautionary measures were in place, points out that “the vaccine is a game changer for teachers who are older and have underlying conditions.” The Masterman teachers interviewed reflect the stance of many teachers’ unions across the county, who demand widespread vaccination as a prerequisite to returning.

As the pandemic continues, vaccination will play a pivotal role in the return to school. However, teachers are largely unclear about when this will be. Though many elementary schools around the city opened with a hybrid schedule for Kindergarten through 2nd grade, little information exists about the return of high school students. As Mr. Gilligan puts it, “your guess is as good as mine.” Regardless, the vaccination of teachers is widely agreed upon as progress in the nation’s return to classrooms.