Teacher Vaccination Update

Frustration flourished as teachers in Massachusetts have been left off of the latest list of eligible individuals to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. As of now, March 4th, individuals ages 65 and up and individuals with two or more certain medical conditions are eligible to get vaccinated. However, in over twenty-five states, teachers are qualified to receive their vaccines, and the federal government is pushing elementary schools to reopen in President Biden’s first one hundred days. The National Teachers Association met on February 10th with state officials to make a plan that allows all educators across the country to get vaccinated. The president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, Merrie Najimy, states that “There is a plan… we just need the governor to approve it.” Eugenia Doncov, a history teacher in Framingham, Massachusetts, describes the teacher vaccination pushback as a “slap in the face.” She is angry, since smokers are now eligible to get vaccinated, but teachers are not, believing that it is incredibly unfair. Framingham students have been participating in remote learning since March of 2020 and were due to go back in person on February 22nd, 2021, which is quite a while before teachers could get their shots. Eugenia explains that she and many of her colleagues did not feel entirely safe teaching a classroom full of students while unvaccinated. Thankfully, on March 3rd, Governor Baker announced that Massachusetts teachers would be able to sign up for vaccination appointments. "We think teachers should absolutely be part of the game starting next week," the governor said. Many teachers are eager to find appointment openings to have the chance to be vaccinated as soon as possible. At Needham High School, a handful of teachers have already had the opportunity to get their first dose of vaccines, and many have declared it a great relief. Teacher vaccinations increase the chance of schools being able to open with fewer worries and risks. Once they are fully vaccinated, many teachers have said they feel safer with more kids in their classrooms, providing a sense of hope for schools to fully reopen soon.