CDC director says vaccinated teachers not a 'prerequisite' for schools to reopen

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill


BY JOHN BOWDEN - 02/14/21 11:14 AM EST

The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rochelle Walensky, reiterated Sunday that she doesn't believe all teachers need COVID-19 vaccines before returning to classrooms.

Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union," Walensky was asked about concerns from teachers about returning to in-person learning, especially given that around 25 percent teachers are elderly or have comorbidities that could contribute to more severe infections.

"I'm a strong advocate of teachers receiving their vaccinations, but we don't believe it's a prerequisite for reopening schools," Walensky said, adding that CDC guidance stipulated that states should allow those at higher risk of serious COVID-19 infections to remain home for virtual learning until they can be vaccinated.

"We have in the guidance clear language that specifies that teachers that are at higher risk...teachers and students that are higher risk, and their families, should have options for virtual activities, virtual learning, virtual teaching,” she said.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/538815-cdc-director-says-teachers-vaccinated-not-a-prerequisite-for

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Fauci: Stimulus bill needs to be passed for schools to reopen

BY JOSEPH CHOI - 02/14/21 11:00 AM EST


Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, said on Sunday that a stimulus bill needed to be passed in order for schools to safely reopen.

While appearing on ABC’s “This Week,” Fauci spoke with host George Stephanopoulos about how schools could safely reopen, expanding on new guidelines that were recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“It's the first time that it’s been put down in a document based on scientific observations and data over the last several months to a year, both in the United States and elsewhere. Part of that is to indicate and to suggest strongly that a preference be given to teachers to get vaccinated,” Fauci said, though he added it was possible to reopen schools without having all teachers vaccinated beforehand.

When asked by Stephanopoulos if schools had the resources available to abide by the new CDC guidelines, Fauci said he did not believe so.

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/538813-fauci-stimulus-bill-needs-to-be-passed-for-schools-to-reopen