In Case You Missed It, NBC Boston reported on Governor Chris Sununu’s approved plan to move ski patrol members -- even out-of-staters and volunteers -- into the first group to receive the COVID vaccine ahead of New Hampshire’s teachers.
Key points:
“The CDC is recommending educators get vaccinated in phase one, but in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, teachers are slated for phase two -- and they’re not happy about it.”
“‘We found out that ski patrol was getting prioritized over educators in New Hampshire for getting the vaccine in Phase 1,’ [Megan Tuttle] said.”
“‘If the governor truly wants to get schools back open, then we need to get the teachers vaccinated,’ [Tuttle] said.”
NBC Boston: Ski Patrol Prioritized Over Educators for COVID Vaccine in NH By Katherine Underwood January 24, 2021 The CDC is recommending educators get vaccinated in phase one, but in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, teachers are slated for phase two -- and they’re not happy about it.
“We’re not the ones politicizing it, the governor is,” said Megan Tuttle, president of the National Education Association of New Hampshire (NEA-NH).
Tensions are running high in New Hampshire as Tuttle calls on the governor to get educators vaccinated sooner.
“We found out that ski patrol was getting prioritized over educators in New Hampshire for getting the vaccine in Phase 1,” she said.
[...]
“The problem is that right now skiing is a luxury recreation,” Tuttle responded. “It’s an activity you don’t have to go do.”
What is necessary, Tuttle says, is getting kids back in the classroom.
“If the governor truly wants to get schools back open, then we need to get the teachers vaccinated,” she said.
[...]
But Tuttle says it’s more about protecting teachers outside of their classrooms - so they can be there for the kids.
“If we don’t have enough educators in schools because they’re quarantining, we can’t have the schools open.”
New Hampshire and Massachusetts teachers are eligible in phase two of the vaccine rollout plan. In Massachusetts, that should start sometime next month. In New Hampshire, it’s set to start in March.
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