Biden to Prioritize Vaccinating School Teachers

Biden to Prioritize Vaccinating School Teachers
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington on Mar. 2, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
The Associated Press
3/3/2021
Updated:
3/3/2021

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is directing states to prioritize vaccinating all teachers during the month of March, and announced that the federal government will help in the effort through its partnership with retail pharmacies.

Biden said his goal is for every pre-kindergarten through 12th grade educator, school staff member, and childcare worker to receive at least one shot by the end of March.

To achieve this, Biden announced that qualifying individuals will be able to sign up this month to be vaccinated at a pharmacy near them.

Biden said that while schools are safe to reopen even before staff have been vaccinated, “time and again, we’ve heard from educators and parents that have anxieties about that,” so to “accelerate” the safe reopening teachers should be prioritized.