Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Rochelle WalenskyRochelle Walensky’s Morning Report The Hill – Presented by Facebook – Biden, Republican Party senators start talking; Dems advance Health care overnight: White House awards 0 million to increase testing at home | Schumer promises that Senate will accept ‘bold’ coronavirus project Biden officials advocate two-dose strategy amid fears of variants Biden officials advocate two-dose strategy amid fears of variants MORE He emphasized on Wednesday that it is not necessary to vaccinate teachers to reopen schools safely, citing data from his agency to say that it is possible to return to face-to-face classes, provided other precautions are taken.
“Vaccination of teachers is not a prerequisite for the safe reopening of schools,” said Walensky during a news conference.
She added that although a CDC advisory committee has placed teachers in the “1B” category for vaccination – the second priority group for vaccination – “I also want to make it clear that there is growing data that suggests that schools can reopen safely and that. .. the safe reopening does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated to reopen safely. “
The comments come at a time when a heated debate is taking place about the return of students to face-to-face learning.
Some teacher unions are asking teachers to be vaccinated before they return to school.
Republicans took advantage of the issue to argue that the Biden government is not following science and is instead giving in to its political allies by not asking for an immediate return to face-to-face classes.
“Apparently, Big Labor’s talking points have already shifted Dr. Fauci
Anthony FauciWatch Live: White House COVID-19 Response Team Briefing Study: One dose of the vaccine may be enough for people who have had COVID-19 The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Biden, Republican Party senators begin to talk; Democrats advance MORE as a reference source for the White House ”, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGreene future on House committees in limbo after Republican Party meeting. Party lawmaker pressures measures to remove Omar from the Foreign Affairs panel. House Republicans prepare for meeting amid party civil war MORE (Ky.) Said in the Senate plenary on Wednesday.
The White House argues that more funds are needed to allow schools to reopen safely.
“President Biden has made it very clear that he wants schools to reopen and, in fact, remain open, and that means that each school has the equipment and resources to open safely,” Jeff Zients
Jeff ZientsOvernight Health Care: Biden calls Democrats and calls for major COVID-19 relief bill | White House says some vaccines from COVID-19 will be sent directly to pharmacies | Cooks, farm workers most at risk of death from COVID-19 The White House announces that some COVID-19 vaccines will be sent directly to the press administration of Georgia senators at Senate Dems pharmacies on coronavirus relief: report MORE, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, added after Walensky’s comments during the press conference.
“Congress has to do its part to ensure that we can safely reopen schools and keep them open,” he added, asking Congress to approve Biden’s coronavirus response plan, which includes an additional $ 170 billion for items such as school tests and better ventilation and allowing smaller classes.
Republicans point out that Congress has already approved $ 82 billion for schools in the package approved in December.
The CDC said in an article last week that there is “little evidence” of widespread transmission of coronavirus in schools if proper precautions, such as universal masking, spreading students and ensuring adequate ventilation, are taken.