Los Angeles, CA — In letters to Governor Newsom, California Department of Public Health, and Center for Disease Control, Supervisor Janice Hahn is calling for teachers and school personnel to be prioritized to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
“If it was ever up for debate before, this pandemic has made it clear once and for all that our classroom teachers are essential,” said Supervisor Hahn. “We need teachers back in their classrooms. They are essential to our kids, our families, and our economy. Our vaccine distribution plan should reflect that fact.”
Phase 1B of the vaccine distribution plan will include essential workers. Supervisor Hahn is asking that teachers and school personnel be considered essential workers in this Phase 1B category and that they are included in the 1st tier of this phase.
“We need to reopen our schools, and that means vaccinating our teachers as soon as possible,” continued Supervisor Hahn.
The LA County Department of Public Health distributes vaccines based on the recommendations established by the CDC and State Department of Public Health.
See the full letter from the Supervisor to the State below and letter to the CDC here.
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Dear Governor Newsom and Acting State Public Health Officer, Dr. Erica Pan:
As you develop recommendations for prioritizing essential workers for vaccinations, I urge you to include teachers and school personnel in tier one of Phase 1B.
If it was ever up for debate before, this pandemic has made it clear once and for all that our classroom teachers are essential. Although teachers have gone above and beyond to teach their students during distance learning, school closures have been one of the most consequential and painful aspects of this pandemic. Kids are falling behind, and parents are struggling to juggle their own jobs and supervise their children’s education.
Teachers want to get back to their classrooms, and some already are. But many of them are in high risk groups that are most vulnerable to this virus and others live with family members who are at high risk. We need to reopen our schools, and that means vaccinating teachers as soon as possible.
We need teachers back in their classrooms. They are essential to our kids, our families, and our economy. California’s vaccine distribution plan should reflect that fact. I urge you to include teachers and school personnel in the first tier of Phase 1B of our vaccination effort.
Sincerely,
Janice Hahn
Los Angeles County Supervisor – Fourth District