Encouraged by an increase in vaccine shipments, states and cities are rapidly expanding to qualify for COVID-19 shots for teachers, Americans 55 and older, and other groups as the US rushes to beat the virus and businesses and schools to reopen.
Arizona, Connecticut and Indiana have thrown open the line to the younger age bracket. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are reserving the first doses of Johnson & Johnson’s new one-time vaccine for teachers. And in Detroit, factory workers can get vaccinated starting this week, regardless of age.
Giving the vaccine to teachers and other school personnel “will help protect our communities,” said Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf. “It will take the burden off our parents and families. It will ensure that our schools start teaching our children again. “
So far, the vaccination campaign against the outbreak that killed more than half a million Americans has focused mainly on health workers and seniors.
In the US, politicians and school administrators have worked hard in recent weeks to reopen classrooms to keep students from falling behind and to allow more parents to return to work instead of overseeing their children’s education. But teachers resist returning without getting vaccinated.
Jody Mackey, 46, a high school digital media and history teacher in Traverse City, Michigan – where students have mostly attended in person since September – received her second dose nearly two weeks ago after teachers in her district were assigned as essential workers.
Before that, she kept the windows of her classroom open and used heaters.
“If you want schools to be successful and safe and you want your teachers to be involved with their heads, get them the vaccination,” she said. “Putting teachers in a situation where they feel scared all the time, where they want to avoid their kids, how is that good for kids or teachers?”
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey on Wednesday ordered students and teachers to return to school later this month, saying many teachers have already received their second dose in the state’s early vaccination efforts.
“The science is clear: it is time for all children to have the opportunity to return to school so they can get back on track and close the achievement gap,” Ducey said in a statement.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US has given nearly 80 million injections during a vaccination program now underway. More than 20% of the country’s adults, or nearly 52 million people, have received at least one dose and 10% have been fully vaccinated.
President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the US expects to have enough vaccine for all adults by the end of May, two months earlier than expected, although it will likely take longer to administer those injections. He also urged states to get at least one shot in the arms of teachers by the end of March, saying the government will provide the doses directly through its pharmacy program.
In Wisconsin, teachers will be given priority when the state receives its first shipment of about 48,000 doses of the J&J vaccine, health authorities said. Pennsylvania teachers will also be first in line when 94,000 doses of the J&J formula are expected to arrive this week.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced this week that educators, school personnel, and daycare workers can now record.
And in Massachusetts, about 400,000 teachers, childcare workers and school staff will be eligible for vaccinations as of March 11, Governor Charlie Baker said Wednesday, though he warned it could take time to book appointments as supply remains limited.
Tennessee will open vaccinations Monday to an estimated 1 million people over the age of 16 with high-risk health problems and those in households with medically vulnerable children.
The rush to vaccinate comes as many states are relaxing restrictions on people and businesses, despite repeated warnings from health officials that the US risks another deadly wave. Biden on Wednesday called out Republican governors of Texas and Mississippi for lifting their mask rules.
“We are about to fundamentally change the nature of this disease,” said the president. “The last thing we need is for the Neanderthal to think everything is okay in the meantime, take off your mask, forget it. It still matters. “
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves snapped back on Twitter. Mississippians don’t need handlers. As the numbers decrease, they can assess their choices and listen to experts, ”he said. “I think I think we should trust Americans, not offend.”
Although deaths and newly confirmed infections have fallen from their January peaks, they are still at a high level. The US has an average of nearly 2,000 deaths and 66,000 cases per day.
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky encouraged Americans to “do the right thing,” even as states lift their restrictions.
Vaccinations are seen as the key to getting people back to work and reviving the battered economy.
“The more people we can get the safe and effective vaccine, the sooner we can return to a sense of normalcy,” Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on Wednesday in a statement announcing that all people aged 50 to 64 years old on March 22 can start getting vaccinations. .
Cindy Estrada, a vice president at United Auto Workers, said factory workers have suffered illness and death, so Detroit’s decision to give them photos “is incredibly important.”
“It will give them some peace of mind,” she said, baring her arm for an injection.
Associated Press Writers Chris Grygiel in Olympia, Washington; David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan; Ed White in Detroit; John Flesher in Traverse City, Michigan; Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville, Tennessee; Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin; Terry Tang in Phoenix; and Alexandra Jaffe, Nancy Benac and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this story.