ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The previous five educators in Missouri to be named "Teacher of the Year" have all signed a letter begging their fellow teachers be given doses of the COVID-19 vaccine "immediately."
The letter sent last week to the director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Dr. Randall Williams. It says the state is putting teachers, bus drivers, school staff and other faculty at a very high risk of contracting the coronavirus, but "the current distribution plan may not provide teachers and support staff full viral protection before the end of the this school year."
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It's signed by the Missouri Teacher of the Year winners from 2018 through 2021, who come from school districts in and around St. Louis County, Kansas City, Springfield and St. Charles.
"We need vaccinations not to 'get back' to schools, we are already in schools, even as emerging viral variants enter our communities and school hallways. Prompt vaccinations will maximize learning; prompt vaccinations will undoubtedly save staff and student lives," the letter states.
The teachers also say "three out of five of us" have already tested positive for COVID-19.
"Twenty-six states are choosing to vaccinate educators immediately, including seven our our eight bordering states," the letter states. "Policy makers and community leaders have asked school building to be open. Missouri teachers and support staff are doing what has been asked of us. We ask that you know do the right thing."
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Missouri is currently vaccinating those in "Phase 1B - Tiers 1 and 2," according to COVIDVaccine.MO.gov. Teachers are in the next group, "Phase 1B - Tier 3."
Read the full letter, here:
Both Dr. Williams and Missouri Gov. Mike Parson responded to the letter.
From Dr. Williams:
"We look forward to the day when supply increases to the point where we can vaccinate our teachers and enhance classroom safety. Right now, Missouri remains committed to protecting the more than 3 million senior citizens, health care providers, first responders and those with underlying health conditions who are currently eligible for the vaccine. With the limited amount of vaccine currently available, we must prioritize those most vulnerable. We remain hard at work on our goal to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to EVERY Missourian who wants to be vaccinated."
From Gov. Parson:
"We are doing everything we can to vaccinate as many Missourians as quickly as possible, and we look forward to the day when supply increases to the point where we can vaccinate our teachers. Right now, Missouri must remain committed to protecting the more than 3 million senior citizens, health care providers, first responders, and those with underlying health conditions who are currently eligible for the vaccine. It is critical that we prioritize those most vulnerable with the limited amount of vaccine currently available. Recent CDC reports indicate that COVID-19 transmission in schools is low and in-person learning does not commonly increase community spread. In Missouri, we have seen that with proper COVID-19 preventive measures in place, schools offer a controlled and structured environment that is unlikely to increase the risk of students or teachers contracting COVID-19. We remain hard at work to achieve our goal of providing the COVID-19 vaccine to EVERY Missourian who wants it as soon as possible."
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