Walberg, Stevens Lead Bipartisan Call for Vaccine Priority Access for Teachers

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Representatives Tim Walberg (MI-07) and Haley Stevens (MI-11) introduced House Resolution 1249, applauding the historic achievement of the prompt COVID-19 vaccine development and calling for COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts to prioritize frontline workers, nursing home and long-term care residents, individuals with pre-existing conditions, and K-12 educators. Representatives Walberg and Stevens both sit on the House Education and Labor Committee.

“Through public-private partnerships established under Operation Warp Speed, a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is within reach in record time,” said Walberg. “I commend the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for their efforts to give priority access to particularly vulnerable groups like health care workers and high-risk seniors and patients. Our nation’s teachers should be given top-tier consideration as well, paving the way for the re-opening of schools across the country. Resuming face-to-face instruction is critical to the educational and emotional development of our children. It will also lift burdens placed on millions of American parents forced with unexpected childcare responsibilities stemming from virtual learning. Thanks to these scientific breakthroughs, there is light at the end of the tunnel in our fight to eradicate this virus.”

“As Chair of the House Science Subcommittee on Research & Technology, I applaud the unprecedented efforts of our scientific community to make remarkable progress on a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. With the goal to vaccinate everyone, targeted and vulnerable populations in our communities must be prioritized. As Michigan was hit hard and early by COVID-19, Congressman Walberg and I are introducing a resolution to express the sentiment of Congress that in addition to older Americans and frontline workers, our nation’s teachers must also be prioritized as a vaccine is distributed. Re-opening schools will be a top priority in the coming months, both for the benefit of our nation’s students, dedicated teachers, and our economy, as millions of parents will no longer have to shoulder the burden of child care responsibilities alone. Taking direction from scientists and public health experts, we will continue to work together to keep our communities safe,” said Stevens.

With encouraging vaccine developments coming from both Pfizer and Moderna, attention has shifted to logistical considerations associated with distributing a vaccine to hundreds of millions of Americans. In order to protect those disproportionately impacted either by the onset of symptoms or exposure risks, H.Res. 1249 urges state governors, local jurisdictions, and others involved in vaccine distribution to rush the vaccine to higher risk groups. Click here to download a PDF of H.Res. 1249.