Letter to the editor: Why are teachers vaccine priority?

In regard to teachers being moved to the front of the line for receiving covid-19 vaccines regardless of age: Others in Phase 1A still are trying to get vaccinated, often driving many miles, or being put on a waiting list.

Teachers may be considered essential workers, but so are grocery store workers, restaurant workers and many others.

Many teachers have been working from home and collecting their paychecks and benefits. Others do not have that opportunity.

I realize remote learning may not be the ideal situation for students, but it has been done, with the schools supplying computers for those who need them.

I think all teachers could have been in the classrooms, because they could distance themselves 10 to 15 feet away from the students. Not so for the other “essential” workers, working just a few feet away from customers, many of them refusing to wear masks.

Will the vaccine be mandatory for all teachers? If not, will the teachers refusing to be vaccinated still be allowed to perform in-person teaching, or just stay home collecting their paychecks?

Now for the new CDC guidelines: Students sitting 3 feet apart even with masks can become infected and then pass it on to their families.

There have been cases when schools have opened during the pandemic and students tested positive, the schools had to shut down again.

Bob Cihil

Harrison