Thousands of Pennsylvania teachers, education workers to get COVID-19 vaccines starting this week

PITTSBURGH — Thousands of teachers in Pennsylvania will start getting the COVID-19 vaccine this week.

Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine is being used for teachers, marking a major step toward getting students back into classrooms.

>>STORY: Plan in place to get Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to teachers in Pennsylvania

Select Pittsburgh Public Schools teachers will get the shot between Wednesday and Friday. Specifically, those teaching K-5, special education and bus drivers will go first.

The vaccinations come as the district reported it is still on track to start bringing students back to school in person on April 6.

>>PREVIOUS STORY: Pittsburgh Public Schools lays out plan to get students back into classrooms

Pennsylvania is setting aside 124,000 shots for teachers across the commonwealth.

“We have been back to work for weeks, and a lot of teachers are nervous about it. So, knowing that it’s coming this week or next week, a lot of teachers feel a big sigh of relief,” Kelly Collins, a teacher in the Laurel Highlands School District, said.

“It’s been so difficult, just the fact that I can’t give a student a high five or a pat on the back, especially the beginning of the year,” said kindergarten teacher Lauren Harris.

70 teachers and staff members in the Jeannette School District signed up to get the vaccine and it could happen as soon as the weekend.

The vaccines are not mandatory.

Bus drivers are also keeping their students safe by spraying down and sanitizing everything between trips, scattered seating and having the children wear masks at all times.

And because a lot of drivers left the business due to fears of getting sick from COVID-19, bus companies are looking to hire more drivers before the full return to in-person learning in April. You can get more information on hiring here.

One year since first COVID-19 cases reported in Pennsylvania

Cox Media Group