Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, tells “Axios on HBO” that states should prioritize teachers for vaccination as part of the reopening of schools for face-to-face learning.
Between lines: Weingarten refused to say which teachers should be prioritized.
- “If we say that prioritizing face-to-face learning is important, priority should be given to teachers and bus drivers working in places that are reopening,” he said.
- In previous statements, Weingarten said teachers should be vaccinated along with other people in priority group 1-B.
AFT is the second largest teachers’ union in the country, which represents 1.7 million members in cities such as Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.
- Last September, Weingarten told Axios he would support the requirement to vaccinate teachers before returning to classrooms.
- He later went through this issue arguing that while he supports vaccination, he also acknowledges that some teachers have been frightened by misinformation.
- According to a recent survey, 67% of AFT teachers said they have already been vaccinated or plan to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Sixteen percent say they either don’t plan to get vaccinated or aren’t sure yet.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated by adding Weingarten’s previous statements that teachers should be vaccinated in priority group 1-B.