Teachers Could Be Immunized in Next Round of Vaccinations

According to Gov. Gavin Newsom, teachers could be among the next group of people to receive the coronavirus vaccine in the first tier of Phase 1B.

People 75 and older, emergency service and agriculture workers, including farm and grocery workers, will also receive the vaccine in the first tier of Phase 1B. 

That phase is expected to begin sometime in January, but it will not speed up school openings. 

Pasadena Unified School Board President Scott Phelps told Pasadena Now he thinks teachers will be “strongly encouraged” to get vaccinated.  

So far, health care workers, seniors living in assisted living facilities, and some firefighters have received the vaccine. It was not known when police officers would receive the vaccine. 

Phase 1B includes people who are unable to work from home, live or work in highly impacted areas, or are most likely to spread the virus to co-workers or the public.

The second tier of Phase 1B includes:

• Anyone 65 or older with an underlying health condition or disability
• Workers in transportation and logistics
• Workers in industrial, residential and commercial sectors
• Critical manufacturing workers
• Incarcerated individuals
• Homeless individuals

The state expects to receive more than 1.7 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines by the end of the week. Both vaccines require an individual to receive two doses to be effective.

Newsom said more than 260,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine have already been administered in California.

Phases 1A and 1B should be decided on Wednesday by California’s vaccine advisory committee. That committee is also planning to discuss who should come next, in Phase 1C.

Phase 1C could include:

• Anyone 16 to 64 years old with an underlying health condition or disability
• Workers in water and waste management
• Workers in the defense, energy and chemical sectors
• Communications and internet technology workers
• Financial services and government operations workers
• Community service groups

Newsom said Monday the groups included in Phase 1C are still preliminary until approved Wednesday by the advisory committee.