Dr Anthony Fauci said on Tuesday that schools should not wait for every teacher to be vaccinated for COVID-19 in order to reopen.
Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said it was ‘important’ for educators to receive the vaccine, but it was not necessary to start the class again.
‘It’s clear it’s not a sine. You can not say that we will not open any schools unless all the teachers are vaccinated, ”Fauci said Jim Sciutto, CNN anchor.
Fauci said states still need to prioritize teachers for vaccinations while following other health guidelines such as masking, disinfection and social distance.
“It’s a priority when it comes to essential staff, but we think we can move forward if we vaccinate teachers, but it does not have to be that if you are not vaccinated, you can not open the school,” Fauci said. .
Fauci’s recommendations are in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new guidelines for returning to schools.
Dr Rochelle Walensky, the CDC’s director, told reporters that vaccinating teachers is an extra layer of protection, but to focus on other recommendations on public health.
“We know that most bunches occurred in the school environment when there were offenses wearing the mask,” Walensky said.
The CDC last week unveiled its guide to reopening schools.