Almost 80% of school staff have received first dose of COVID vaccine, CDC says

Close to four-fifths of Pre-K-12 teachers, school staff and childcare workers received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine last month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Early in March, President Biden directed all states to make this group of employees eligible for vaccines and prioritized their vaccinations through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program.  

According to data and surveys conducted by the CDC, over 2 million of these workers were vaccinated through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program last month, while an additional 5 to 6 million were vaccinated through their state programs. 

“Our push to ensure that teachers, school staff and childcare workers were vaccinated during March has paid off and paved the way for safer in-person learning,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in a statement.