Chicago – There is some debate about who should be among the 50 million Americans in line for the next wave of coronavirus vaccines. States are starting to make their own priority lists, while unions say their members should go first.
We have spent almost two weeks with more than 600,000 vaccines administered, including the country’s leading infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, who received the vaccine Tuesday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the next group should be 75 years or older and frontline, but they are 49 million people. To date, just under 5 million doses have been administered.
Sylvia Tanguma, who runs the teachers’ union in McAllen, Texas, said she feels she is competing with other workers essential to the vaccine. Tanguma eats in his car so he doesn’t take off his mask at school.
On Monday, Texas announced that the next group to be vaccinated will be those 65 or older or at high risk, not teachers in general.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott “has to take into account how many teachers we have and how badly we need them,” Tanguma said.
After studying New York’s rise, the CDC found that correctional officers were more exposed, which is why Chicago’s Anthony McGee believes they should have priority.
“They have to pass medications,” said McGee, who is vice president of Teamsters Local 700. “They have to pass food. There’s no way our members don’t have direct contact with inmates.”
Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Aileen Marty says the vaccination order must be ethical and strategic.
“Vaccinate the right group of people, flatten the curve faster,” Marty said.
But the CDC says even those next in line will wait at least a month.