COVID update: Schools can safely reopen even if teachers aren’t vaccinated against coronavirus, CDC says

WASHINGTON – The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says schools can safely reopen even if teachers have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Since some teacher unions fail to resume personal education before vaccinating teachers, Dr. Rochelle Walensky: “Vaccination of teachers is not a condition for the safe reopening of schools.” Walensky cited CDC data showing that social distance and wearing a mask significantly reduce the spread of the virus in school.

White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients called on Congress to pass on additional funding to ensure schools have the necessary resources to support reopening.

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President Joe Biden has pledged to ensure that nearly all K-8 schools reopen for personal instruction in the first 100 days of his administration.

Teachers are prioritized as “essential workers” under the CDC’s vaccination plans, although many have not yet received doses as the country is struggling with vaccine shortages.