COLOMBIA (WOLO): TEach across the state is pushing for priority in South Carolina’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. Governor McMaster accessed Twitter on Sunday in response to a cry from South Carolina teachers.
“If we allow teachers to jump off the line, we will be taking vaccines from our most vulnerable population, which is dying from this virus. This is unethical, immoral and absolutely unacceptable, ”tweeted McMaster.
Nicole Walker, a member of the SC Board of Education, and Teacher of School District Two of Richland, considers the governor’s words a distraction tool. “Governor McMaster is trying to avoid discussing the fact that the vaccine launch was a major failure. We must be able to do what other states are doing and vaccinate the population over 65 and teachers at the same time. “
The tweets came after the governor’s press conference on February 4 with the State Superintendent of Education, Molly Spearman.“There is growing evidence that schools are not the super-promoters they once feared to be,” said Spearman.
There, the governor emphasized that the current vaccination plan should be maintained, citing new research from CDC and MUSC.
“All the evidence says that we have to maintain the system that we have now, which is growing, is getting stronger and stronger as we get more vaccines. We have to keep this movement going without interruption. Now is not the time to throw a wrench into this system that will put people in danger in even more danger. It would be an unscrupulous thing to do that at this point. “
In another Sunday tweet, McMaster also said that they are working as quickly as possible to move on to the next stage. On Monday, February 8, South Carolina residents aged 65 and over could start receiving their COVID-19 vaccines, which have passed phase 1-C.
Teachers are currently listed in phase 1-B with other essential workers, but while they are waiting for their turn, other issues are developing in the classroom.
Walker says, “We are seeing a large number of quarantines and there is simply not enough coverage in the buildings. The class is being held in the cafeteria, so several classes can be held together. Teachers are having to accept extra students and it is not a safe situation in schools. “Walker believes that once teachers and school staff are vaccinated,”schools will be better equipped to deal with more students in the building ”.
Meanwhile, Senate majority leader Shane Massey last week proposed a joint amendment to require the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), as well as the Department of Education, to move teachers and staff to phase 1- A and create a plan to vaccinate everyone who wants the vaccine in 30 days. This would also require all schools to offer 5-day classroom learning to students.
The resolution depends on the approval of the governor.