Shots in schools: Unions call for special vaccine program for Mass. teachers

BOSTON — A plan is being considered to have firefighters vaccinate teachers right at their schools.

According to American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President Beth Kontos, unions representing teachers and firefighters have already met with state Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders four times.

“We have no approval as of yet on our vaccine rollout plan, but we are continuing to pressure the governor’s office to approve the release of vaccines for our plan,” Kontos told Boston 25 News.

They plan to meet with Sudders again on Wednesday.

“I certainly hope Wednesday will be the day we receive approval,” Kontos said.

On Thursday, 400,000 educators and school staff members will become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Under a federal directive, CVS Pharmacy was able to start vaccinating teachers last week.

A company spokesman told the Boston Globe they vaccinated 25,000 people who identified as teachers Wednesday through Friday of last week.

A member of the state COVID-19 Response Command Center told the Globe the Baker administration is also finalizing plans for exclusive, educator-only vaccine days at the state’s mass vaccination sites.

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