A survey out from NEA shows that nationally only 20 percent of teachers have received their first vaccine dose while 64 percent are working in-person full- or part-time. In Connecticut, most educators are working fully in-person without access to vaccines.
Twenty-seven states have begun vaccinating teachers, but Connecticut is not among them. Connecticut is not following CDC vaccine rollout guidance to prioritize teachers and instead has postponed vaccinating school staff.
Eighty-five percent of educators surveyed by NEA believe that school staff should be prioritized for vaccines, and 70 percent said they would feel safer working in-person if they were vaccinated.
“Educators want nothing more than to be back to in-person learning with our students,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “It’s time to fund proven mitigation strategies—and it’s far past time for every governor to prioritize educator vaccinations.”
“In Connecticut, we’re falling behind other parts of the country,” said CEA President Jeff Leake. “If we want schools to be open and stay open for full in-person learning, we must prioritize vaccinating teachers.”
