Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, tells the Axios Re:Cap podcast that her union would support requiring in-school teachers to take a COVID-19 vaccine, once one has been approved and is readily available.
AFT represents 1.7 million members in over 3,000 local affiliates.
Her statement: "We would support that... Just like we have vaccines we require kids to take to be in school in normal times."
Go deeper: Listen to the full conversation on Axios Re:Cap.
Around 37% of America’s public school students are beginning the year in some sort of in-person learning, which means millions of teachers have returned to classrooms.
Axios Re:Cap talks with American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten about what's working, what's still needed, and if teachers should be required to take a COVID-19 vaccine (when available).
Wildfires and smoke have engulfed the West Coast for weeks. More than 30 people have been killed across California, Oregon and Washington state and now, authorities are worried that these fires could result in a mass casualty event.