Older Oregonians Upset Teachers Set to Get COVID-19 Vaccine Before Them

KGW reports that some seniors in Oregon are irate with Gov. Kate Brown's decision to prioritize teachers ahead of them for COVID-19 vaccinations. She explained in announcing the move that "these are really . . . tough decisions and the harsh reality is we do not have enough vaccines to vaccinate everyone at once." Senior Oregonians like Trish Smith are aware that this policy diverges from a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel's recommendation to immunize older Americans first. "The recommendations . . . are that seniors should have priority either at 70 or 75 because we are the ones who die," she notes. Oregon Education Association President John Larson said, "all things being equal, if teachers weren't being put into that situation — if they could continue with comprehensive distance learning — then you probably should prioritize seniors." He feels Brown is forcing educators back into the classroom by giving local school districts authority over when to reopen. "They need some modicum of safety in order to feel they can go back and do their jobs without fear," Larson argued.