Partnership announced to offer vaccinations to public and private school employees

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The state is urging teachers to return to the classroom whether or not they have the coronavirus vaccine.

Chris Reykdal, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Friday announced a partnership with Kaiser Permanente to offer vaccinations to the state’s 143,000 public school employees and 12,000 private school employees.

The program will make it easier for teachers to get the shot but will not change their place in line.

Reykdal is urging all public and private school teachers and employees who are currently eligible to get their vaccines now, saying the more that can be vaccinated now, the faster the next phase will go when vaccines are open to all educators.

Many teachers are frustrated with the push for classroom learning in the face of current infection rates.