Biden Needs to Follow Andy Beshear's Model

[erpowers]

On CBS Face the Nation, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear stated that he put teachers at the front of the first responders vaccine line. I have been thinking for days that if President Biden wants to open schools in his first 100 days he should give teacher priority in getting the COVID vaccine. There is nothing wrong with teachers saying they do not want to go back to teaching if they have not been fully vaccinated. Republicans are calling on President Biden to take on teachers unions. I do not see any reason for President Biden to take on teachers unions. Teachers are only asking to be kept safe. Lets put teachers at the front of the line to get vaccinated and open schools when all teachers who want the vaccine have gotten the vaccine.

[miss-nasty]

1. Was thinking the very same thing...

I live in a neighboring state and watch Andy on the local news every evening. He’s the real deal and I have wished a million times over this past year that my home state had his leadership.

[Renew Deal]

2. I've heard schools are already starting to reopen.

I know someone in MD that is going from remote to hybrid and someone else going from hybrid to full time. All in the next 3 weeks.

[HUAJIAO]

3. I have several friends in MD who are none too happy about this.. Of course, just anecdotal....

[Renew Deal]

8. Parents are happy

And in many cases, so are kids. People can choose to not get vaccinated. Either way, schools can opening.

[HUAJIAO]

9. Yes, I can understand that....

[W_HAMILTON]

4. I believe Biden has already said as much.

But each state sets its own vaccination priority list -- not the president.

[dsc]

5. I am a teacher in NC and I got my first shot yesterday

I will be getting my second on 27 Mar. I will say though I have been hybrid since Sept I am relieved to be vaccinated and would very much insist on it before having full classes.

[SoonerPride]

6. Biden has no such authority.

He has advocated openly and often for moving teachers to the front of the vaccine line.

But he had no authority to force the issue.

[genxlib]

10. Is this really true?

It seems to me that Trump simply abdicated these decisions to the State and let them decide.

Now it seems that Biden is going along with that to keep from overturning the systems that were in place.

But is is true that the Feds couldn't set the priorities?

Even if they still wanted to leave the States alone, they are setting up separate delivery streams directly from the Feds. It seems like they could dictate on that one if nothing else.

[SoonerPride]

11. Yes it is true. Here is the information from HHS.gov

Prioritization

After the FDA authorizes a vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends who should be vaccinated first, second, third, etc. in the United States while supplies are limited. For the COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC recommends prioritizing healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities to receive the vaccination first.

Learn more about how CDC is making vaccine recommendations
Read the Advisory Committee's recommendation for use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
Read the Advisory Committee's recommendation for use of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

Then, each state, tribe, and territory develops its own plan for deciding which groups of people will be vaccinated first and following groups.

https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines/distribution/index.html#prioritization

[genxlib]

12. I can see where that is the stated policy

But I am not sure I agree that the policy has to be that way. Is there any underlying law that makes it that way?

I would also suggest that there is a distinction between the Government as regulatory agent and the Government as owner. One is setting guidelines. The other is paying for it and should have a stronger voice in how it is used. Especially since the point of paying for it is to maximize the benefit across the entire Country and economy. The argument can certainly be made that taking care of teachers and making it safe to be in school again is good for both.

If that distinction sounds strange, it really isn't. It happens all the time. The FHWA has broad guidelines how to build highways but very specific requirements when you are spending federal money on them (like Buy American Clauses for instance)

I don't mean to argue. You are probably right. I just don't see why that would be the case.

[genxlib]

13. This is good news about this topic

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142705805

It seems that the Biden admin is doing exactly what I thought that they might

[Bayard]

7. OFFICE OF GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR

Gov. Beshear Provides Update COVID-19

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 26, 2021) – On Friday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced the state’s positivity rate has decreased to 5.52%.
“I hope all of our Kentucky families have a great, safe weekend,” said Gov. Beshear. “We’re still not out of the woods with this horrible virus, but every week, we’re taking another step forward in our fight against it.”

Case Information
As of 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, Gov. Beshear reported the following COVID-19 numbers:

New cases today: 1,180
New deaths today: 30
Positivity rate: 5.52%
Total deaths: 4,600
Currently hospitalized: 818
Currently in ICU: 218
Currently on ventilator: 105

Our situation would be SO much worse if a rethug was still in charge.