Pittsburgh Officials Laud PA Plan To Vaccinate Teachers

PITTSBURGH, PA — Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Anthony Hamlet and Mayor Bill Peduto on Wednesday praised Gov. Tom Wolf's decision to prioritize coronavirus vaccinations for school teachers and staff to help expedite students' safe return to in-person schooling.

Wolf and the COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force, announced teachers and school staff would be
prioritized for the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine as it becomes available. Vaccine distribution will occur in two phases – first for teachers and staff serving students in early grades K-5, serving students who receive special education or English language services in grades PreK-12, and elementary school bus drivers beginning next week.

The announcement comes a week after Hamlet shared the district’s plans to bring back students for in-person learning based on need beginning April 6. Peduto last month urged Wolf to swiftly vaccinate teachers, partially due to worries that at-home schooling was widening academic achievement gaps for students and families of color.

“Gov. Wolf’s wise decision to immediately vaccinate teachers will speed up the return of students to school, provide students the in-person attention they need after a full year away, and give teachers confidence that they can return to classrooms safely," Peduto said in a news release.

Added Hamlet: “The vaccinations of our teachers and school staff will add additional layer to the mitigation strategies we have in place to welcome students back for hybrid learning. We are grateful for the advocacy of Mayor Peduto, who has consistently shared his voice to
support the safe reopening of schools.”

Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers President Nina Esposito-Visgitis also praised the plan, sayiny, " The additional layer of protection that full vaccination will provide will make a meaningful and measurable difference in the lives of our educators, school staff, students and school communities."