'Insanity': COVID-19 vaccines for teachers, a key to reopening schools, comes down to location -- and luck Erin Richards and Lindsay Schnell, USA TODAY Teachers struggle to get vaccinated for COVID with chaotic rollout Replay Video Lori Torres was nervous about returning to teaching in-person this week in Chicago. Torres, 47, teaches Spanish to all grades at her preK-8 school and has a medical condition that puts her at increased risk for COVID-19, but her request to continue to teach from home hadn't been approved. Her short-term concern was addressed when the Chicago Teachers Union voted to stay remote while union and city leaders haggled over the safety of working conditions in buildings.