Teachers, education and child care personnel now eligible to be vaccinated

March 3, 2021 – The Texas Department of State Health Services today notified all vaccine providers that they should immediately include school and child care workers in vaccine administration.

Last night, DSHS received a letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services directing states to expand eligibility to include people who work in school and child care operations. The federal directive defined the people eligible as “those who work in pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools, as well as Head Start and Early Head Start programs (including teachers, staff, and bus drivers) and those who work as or for licensed child care providers, including center-based and family care providers.”

This action does not change the other groups prioritized for vaccination in Texas. Providers are encouraged to continue their efforts to vaccinate older adults since the burden of COVID-19 falls most severely on people age 65 and older.

In a related Facebook post today, Texas State Representative Justin Holland said, “Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner John Hellerstedt, M.D. today announced that teachers are now eligible to receive the COVID vaccine. This is a major step in getting our schools back to regular operations and providing students and teachers with healthy learning environments. If you are a teacher and would like information about getting a vaccine, go to the TDEM Vaccine Provider map to find a hub or local provider in your area. Thank you to all of our teachers who have gone above and beyond to continue educating our children and providing regular engagement for students and their peers.”

Blue Ribbon News staff report.

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