Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
White House Gives A Shot In The Arm To School Reopening Plans
The New York Times: Biden Administration Steps Up Push For School Reopenings
Having told educators that they would soon be vaccinated, the Biden administration began an aggressive push on Wednesday to drum up support for reopening schools, putting on a show of unity with the leaders of teachers unions and highlighting measures to keep students and staff safe from the coronavirus. A day after President Biden announced a new federal program to give teachers nationwide access to at least a first dose of the vaccine by the end of March, the administration sought to position itself as intent on opening schools as soon as possible while also addressing the concerns of teachers that their fears were being ignored. (Rogers and Green, 3/3)
Axios: Biden Sends Teachers To Front Of Vaccine Line
President Biden on Wednesday used the federal government to prioritize vaccinating teachers and child care workers, an effort to get kids back in schools, WashPost reports. "My challenge to all states, territories and the District of Columbia is this: We want every educator, school staff member, child care worker to receive at least one shot by the end of the month of March," Biden said. (Owens, 3/3)
The Washington Post: Biden Announces Plan To Make Coronavirus Vaccine More Available To Teachers
In school systems where classrooms remain shuttered, or where children may only attend school once or twice a week, President Biden hopes his move to press states into prioritizing teachers for coronavirus vaccination will help them move toward normalcy. But his announcement Tuesday — and his pledge to make vaccination available to all educators and day-care workers by the end of March — was met with mixed emotions. Union leaders, who had lobbied hard for the move, applauded the action. But critics charged it comes far too late in the school year to make much of a difference for schoolchildren. (Balingit, Meckler and St. George, 3/3)
Also —
AP: It's Back To School For Jill Biden And New Education Chief
Jill Biden, the teacher in the White House, along with new Education Secretary Miguel Cardona went back to school Wednesday in a public push to show districts that have yet to transition back to in-person learning that it can be done safely during the pandemic. “Teachers want to be back,” the first lady said after she and Cardona spent about an hour visiting classrooms and other areas at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School in Meriden, Connecticut. “We want to be back. I’m a teacher. I am teaching virtually.” (Superville, 3/3)
In related news about reopening schools —
The Hill: CVS Pharmacies In Florida To Vaccinate Teachers Under 50 Despite State Age Limits
CVS pharmacies in Florida are vaccinating teachers under 50 years old despite age limits on vaccine recipients imposed by the state. The chain said that it is following new guidance from the Biden administration, The Associated Press reported. It also began vaccinating day care and preschool teachers. "We’ve aligned with updated Federal Retail Pharmacy Program guidelines by making appointments available to pre-K through 12 educators and staff and childcare workers in all 17 states where we currently offer COVID-19 vaccines. This includes Florida," a spokesperson for CVS told The Hill in a statement. (Williams, 3/3)
Boston Globe: Move To Vaccinate Mass. Teachers Intensifies Competition For Limited Shots
Governor Charlie Baker bowed to federal pressure Wednesday and made about 400,000 teachers, school staffers, and child care workers eligible to book COVID-19 shots at Massachusetts vaccination sites on March 11. But with vaccines in short supply, the move will thrust educators into a furious competition for coveted appointments. Seniors and residents with chronic health conditions already are desperately vying for a limited number of slots at the state’s 170 injection sites. (Weisman and Stout, 3/3)
Capital Gazette: For Some, Wearing Masks During High School Sports Is A Contentious Issue. Others Say It’s Common Sense.
As the Anne Arundel County private school boys basketball teams at St. Mary’s and Indian Creek went through their motions during pregame warmups on Monday, there was a gentle reminder from the officials. It wasn’t about sportsmanship or what fouls they might be enforcing more strictly, but rather about the face masks both teams were required to wear during play. Please make sure they cover your mouth and nose, the referees said to the teenagers. (Schwartz, 3/3)
WLRN 91.3 FM: Class Of COVID-19: For Special Education Students, A Potential Side Effect Of COVID-19 School Closure
Last spring, the coronavirus pandemic forced schools across the state to shut down, and teachers to move their lessons online, which Denise Wilson said was a struggle from the start for her son Brady. He is among the nearly 15% of public school students in Florida who have a disability and receive special education services. (Gaffney, 3/4)
WLRN 91.3 FM: Class Of COVID-19: How One School For Fragile Kids With Disabilities Navigated Closures
When schools shut down last spring to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the closures were especially difficult for families of children with disabilities or severe medical conditions. Then came perhaps an even tougher dilemma: what to do when schools reopened in the fall. (Laurenzo, 3/3)
