School Workers May Get Early Shot at COVID-19 Vaccine. Will They Take It?
As states develop their vaccine rollout plans and some governors including in Arizona announce plans to prioritize educators, many are hoping that the vaccination effort will make it easier and safer for schools to stay open for in-person instruction. While most students will not be eligible for a coronavirus vaccine any time soon, the adults in school buildings are at higher risk for serious illness due to COVID-19. Concerns for their health and safety have led to pushback against reopening schools during the pandemic.
But although many school employees are eager to be inoculated against the coronavirus, there may be a sizable contingency of educators who refuse to take the vaccine, at least right away. A nationally representative EdWeek Research Center survey found that 17 percent of educators said they were “very” unlikely to take the vaccine, and 12 percent said they were “somewhat” unlikely.