Teachers push for COVID-19 vaccine priority following local educator’s death

Jacksonville, Fla. — The Center for Disease Control and Prevention outlined who should get the Covid-19 vaccine first especially when there is a supply issue.

In Florida healthcare workers, those 65 and older and essential workers like first responders are getting vaccines.

And Governor Ron DeSantis is expanding Covid-19 vaccination sites across the state with his main focus vaccinating those are 65 and older.

But local teachers in Duval County told Action News Jax they were concerned they still aren’t considered essential workers eligible for the vaccine in Florida.

Terry Parker High School history teacher, Ed Wagner, tells Action News Jax, while he’s all for seniors getting the vaccine he’s worried that the governor still hasn’t prioritized educators despite recommendations from the CDC.

“It’s our lives that they’re rolling the dice with and yes it’s a small percentage, but the false comparison is that to the flu because it’s much more nastier than the flu,” Wagner said.

Action News Jax told you yesterday about Jeanne Martin. She was a mother, wife and paraprofessional teacher at Neptune Beach Elementary.

On Monday, the 56-year-old died from Covid-19.

Wagner wants teachers to be added to the list because they’re constantly around students every day. “If we happen to get it we’re exposing good lord how many kids? Now that we’ve gone to a 7th period day. We could see our whole class loads. We’re talking maybe as much as a 150 kids,” Wagner said.

Duval County Public Schools is working with the health department to set aside doses to vaccinate teachers who are 65 and older but Wagner says it’s still not enough.

As much as he loves teaching as a diabetic it’s concerning going to work each day. “I think that’s the answer, those folks with high BMI’s those folks with underlying medical condition, yeah I mean yeah they should be in line to get the vaccine,” Wagner said.

Action News Jax reached out to the Florida Department of Education and the governor’s office to see if they’re planning on making any exceptions for example for those teachers with underlying health issues.

We’ll let you know what we find out as soon as we hear back.

According to Education Week as of Jan. 20, at least 19 states have made some teachers eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine. You can keep track of the progress by clicking on this link HERE.

Cox Media Group