Education Secretary Miguel Cardona did not say whether the government would support mandatory vaccination for educators before they could return to work.
“Right now, vaccination is available to educators. I am proud that the president has prioritized educators to be vaccinated, because we know that when it is not the case, schools are more likely to close due to quarantine, “he told reporters on Wednesday.
In comments earlier this month, President Joe Biden announced that his government would order states to prioritize educators in vaccination efforts, announcing that he was “using all authority from the federal government” to direct states to transfer teachers and staff from the school to the front line.
“We want all educators, school staff and child care workers to receive at least one injection by the end of March,” said Biden two weeks ago.
“It is extremely important that we vaccinate as many as possible and promote the benefits of vaccination, to ensure that we have safe school communities,” said Cardona. “So the message really is, if you are able to make an attempt, make an attempt and, you know, this is a strategy to help keep our schools open.”
On bringing children back to the classroom: Cardona said on Wednesday that if the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updates their guidelines to allow for less social distance, they will potentially get more students at school.
“If it gets to a meter, it will offer more opportunities, potentially for students to enter our schools, which is the goal,” Cardona said at a briefing at the White House.
CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on Wednesday that the CDC plans to issue new guidelines allowing for less social distance in schools. Walensky said the agency is reviewing studies that indicate that the 3-foot physical distance is sufficient to keep students and teachers safe at school.