Peduto asks Gov. Wolf to vaccinate Pennsylvania teachers immediately

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto issued a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday, calling for the state’s Department of Health to immediately prioritize the vaccination of teachers.

His letter follows weeks of sluggishness in the state’s covid-19 vaccine rollout, including confusion and frustration from many educators in the region. Many teachers want to know when and how they’ll receive their first doses. The delay led school board members at Pittsburgh Public Schools to postpone a return to face-to-face instruction.

Peduto said vaccinating teachers would expedite a return to the classrooms, while helping teachers and families feel safe.

The letter said prioritizing teachers for the vaccine “would help to create a safer environment for students, many of whom have fallen behind academically while attempting to shift to at-home learning; expedite the safe reopening of schools; and alleviate the concerns of teachers who are apprehensive about returning to unsafe conditions.”

Peduto drew attention to long-standing inequities in schools and neighborhoods, including access to technology and internet, that have further complicated remote learning curricula. Students have struggled with learning loss after nearly a year of remote learning, after unexpected closures last March spurred a “scramble” in families to secure childcare, technology and other supports.

He offered the use of Pittsburgh’s recreation and senior centers — closed during the pandemic — for use as vaccine distribution centers, as well as city staff to assist working with hospital and public safety officials.

Though the Pennsylvania Department of Health has emphasized a commitment to an equitable distribution plan, much of the vaccine rollout has been marred by inconsistency and confusion. Last month, some teachers in Westmoreland County received their first doses after partnering with a local pharmacy, but most in the region have gotten little concrete information about the vaccine from their respective districts.

Teachers are currently listed in Phase 1B of the state and federal guidelines for vaccine rollout. Pennsylvania is still in Phase 1A.

“This crisis has shined a light on the inequities of our society, and unfortunately, remote learning has exacerbated academic disparities for students and families of color,” Peduto said.

“Promoting vaccines for teachers would help to speed up the safe return to school, would ensure that all students receive the focused academic support that they need to succeed and would be aligned with your administration’s commitment to an equitable response to the pandemic,” he added.