CDC director Rochelle Walensky confirmed that her agency’s recently launched guidance states that it is possible for schools “even in areas of greater community distribution” to reopen safely – at least in a hybrid way – without teachers being vaccinated first.
The CDC released a new guideline last week, highlighting “layered mitigation strategies” to reduce transmission of COVID.
“We are advocating strict mitigation measures … including universal and mandatory masking, as well as six feet away, that at least our K-5 children should be able to return to school at least in a hybrid mode,” said Walensky “Fox News Sunday”, referring to a model that would combine face-to-face and remote learning.
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Walensky acknowledged that some measures, such as reducing classroom density, will be more difficult to achieve, but it is only one of several steps suggested by the new guidance.
“It is a layered mitigation approach,” added Walensky. “And what we present in this orientation is the roadmap to take us there.”
Some teachers’ unions have argued that schools will not be prepared to reopen fully until all school staff are vaccinated. Others went even further, saying it would not be safe to reopen then, claiming that schools need more funding for better ventilation systems before students and staff can return safely.
In the new guideline, vaccinations for teachers and school staff are listed under “additional layers” of protection. Walensky said on Sunday that although vaccinating teachers is not necessary to reopen schools safely, teachers are prioritized to be vaccinated.
“Our other guidance on who should be vaccinated – our advisory committee on immunization practices – suggests that teachers should be prioritized in group 1B,” explained Walensky. “Therefore, I am a strong advocate of ensuring that ASIP guidelines are followed, that teachers are prioritized.”
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“But, from a scientific point of view, we know that it is possible to reopen schools safely without all the teachers being vaccinated,” he added.
Audrey Conklin of Fox News contributed to this report.