S.C. Teacher Group Wants Educators Prioritized in COVID-19 Vaccine Phase

The Palmetto State Teachers Association and the South Carolina Education Association are pushing Governor Henry McMaster to prioritize vaccinating all teachers against covid-19. They are urging him to move them to the top of the phase 1-b group that is expected to start receiving the vaccine in early spring. According to DHEC, phase 1b includes over 573,000 frontline essential workers which includes educators, first responders like law enforcement officers and firefighters not already vaccinated, postal workers and grocery store employees. The state has yet to disclose what order those groups are in. Both associations said more vaccinated teachers can create safer learning environments for everyone.